Cifas alerts consumers of ticket scams ahead of the Commonwealth Games

Cifas, the UK’s leading fraud prevention service, is reminding members of the public to stay alert to ticket scams ahead of the Commonwealth Games- Thursday 28 July- Monday 8 August.

The alert comes amid reports of phishing and website spoofing, citing website domains being registered online with the intention of impersonating genuine ticket selling retailers.

Eventgoers may be given tickets only to be told they are fake when arriving at the venue. Cifas is reminding consumers to take a moment before clicking on unknown links and providing personal and financial details.

To ensure the purchase of genuine tickets, they should be booked directly through official ticket retailers who are members of the self-regulatory body Society of Ticket Agents and Retailers (STAR), anything else could be a scam.

The warning comes as the latest Cifas data shows that levels of fraudulent conduct increased by over 11% in the first half of 2022.

Amber Burridge, Head of Fraud Intelligence at Cifas, said: 'Criminals will be eager to use the Commonwealth Games as an opportunity to extract money from hopeful attendees. People opting for staycations amid ongoing flight cancellations, as airports struggle to meet holiday demand, will likely organise entertainment at sporting events and festivals throughout the summer.

'Scammers will be banking on this so think twice before accepting an offer for a ticket online, especially via social media, text message or email. This goes double when purchasing tickets for high-demand or sold-out events at a suspiciously low price.

'Reputable online retailers will never ask you to pay by bank transfer, and only offer secure payment methods. You should also be wary if told that a customer representative will meet you outside the venue. The same caution should be applied when purchasing resale tickets; official ticket retailers will offer this option through their own channels, and not via a stranger on social media.

'If you have visited a website which you think is suspicious, you can report it to the National Cyber Security Centre using their ‘report a suspicious website’ form. If unsure, use our Check a website tool to check whether a site is genuine.'

ENDS

Notes to Editor

• National Cyber Security Centre- report a suspicious website form: https://www.ncsc.gov.uk/section/about-this-website/report-scam-website

• Cifas and Get Safe Online’s Check-a-Website tool: https://www.getsafeonline.org/checkawebsite/

For further information, please contact:
Ione Gyamfi,
Press & PR Manager
ione.gyamfi@cifas.org.uk
+44 (0)20 4551 7956

Contact us at press@cifas.org.uk