Suffolk ticket fraud costs victims nearly £37,000 last year

Why it matters: The financial impact on local victims highlights a growing national problem, with UK-wide losses to ticket fraud increasing nearly 50% to £9.7 million in 2024.

The details: Suffolk Constabulary advises that using a credit card when purchasing tickets online can increase the chances of recovering money if affected by fraud.

By the numbers:

• 68 Suffolk residents fell victim to ticket fraud
• £36,753 lost by Suffolk victims – an average of £540 per victim
• £9.7 million lost to ticket fraud across the UK in 2024
• Nearly 50% increase in losses compared to 2023

How to protect yourself:

• Only buy tickets from venue box offices, official promoters, agents, or well-known ticketing websites
• Avoid paying by bank transfer, especially if buying from unknown sellers
• Use credit cards or payment services like PayPal for better fraud protection
• Create strong, unique passwords for email and ticket-purchasing accounts
• Enable two-step verification (2SV) for additional security
• Be wary of unsolicited emails, texts or adverts offering unusually good deals
• Check if vendors are members of STAR (Society of Ticket Agents and Retailers)

The bottom line: If you believe you've been a victim of fraud, contact your bank immediately and report it to Action Fraud online.