Fans across the UK are buzzing with excitement about Taylor Swift’s 2024 Era’s tour pre-sale next week. Loyal fans who have already registered on Ticketmaster will be finding out today (July 5) if they have been successful and whether they will be receiving a ticket access code.
Competition for these tickets is fierce and hundreds and thousands of fans are eager to get their hands on one. When the US leg of the popstar's tour went on sale last year, demand was so high that Ticketmaster's systems crashed - with a similar situation expected to potentially occur again for the UK leg.
But with seriously popular events such as this, there’s a chance that fans aren't the only ones awaiting the pre-sale. Cybercriminals, aware of the high demand, may use this as an opportunity to target individuals with various social engineering attempts.
These can include anything from smishing, phishing and telephone-oriented attack delivery (TOAD) methods. According to new data by cybersecurity company Proofpoint, 2023 has seen a significant increase in scams through TOAD for fake concerts tickets, such as big names like Justin Bieber and The Weeknd.
However, knowing what signs to look out for to avoid getting scammed is key. Thankfully, Matt Cooke, Cybersecurity Strategist at Proofpoint has shared his knowledge to help fans protect themselves from falling victim to cons when buying tickets and what to be weary of.
Matt Cooke added: "Timeliness is a key consideration for cyber criminals. Lures that refer to recent events or time-sensitive decisions can cause victims to skip some of the scrutiny they might otherwise apply.
"A high-grossing, in-demand tour such as Taylor Swift’s is the perfect hunting ground for cyber criminals who will take advantage of fans’ desperate need for tickets. Proofpoint urges any Swifties looking to purchase ticket this week to ensure they are purchasing them through an authorised vendor and to take note of our tips to avoid scams.
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"If they fall victim to these criminals, that could lose a lot more than the price of a ticket." Below is a list of his six top tips.
Proofpoint’s tips for Swifties to avoid being scammed next week:
1. Remember, when it comes to your personal data,You Belong With Me.
Never share personal or financial information including bank account or credit card details with someone you don’t know.
2. Think your Wildest Dreams have come true?
If you’ve been privately sent a link to buy tickets, do not click on them. Through links or open attachments from unknown senders - whether that’s over email, text, social media or online - can be a scam.
3. If you’ve finally receive a 'confirmation email', you aren’t Out Of The Woods yet.
Look out for spelling and grammatical errors, these can suggest a message is a scam.
4. Remember, Cyber criminals know All Too Well that you will be stressed and excited.
And because of this, they may try take advantage of you. Only communicate with an organisation through official channels found on company websites. Do not reply directly to emails or click on links provided.
5. Don’t say Would’ve, Could’ve, Should’ve if your data is stolen.
Do not share your passwords with people and ensure you get them changed regularly. Consider using a password manager to help protect your personal information from being stolen.
6. You Need To Calm Down.
Be cautious about phone calls or emails that come out of the blue with ticket offers or other prizes, if it sounds too good to be true, it is usually because it is.
