Get all your news in one place.
100's of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Priya Elan

Fans, Fomo and fakes: how to spot a music ticket scammer

Silhouetted hands hold up a phone recording a concert crowd at night, surrounded by blurred lights
The huge demand for tickets for festivals and must-see gigs gives scammers an opportunity. Composite: Stocksy United/Guardian Design

Music fans, you know the drill. You’ve signed up to your favourite festival’s portal, set three alarms on your phone, and then find you are 4,568th in the queue. So you wait and wait, for what feels like an eternity. And then you realise that the event is sold out. It’s at this point that you’re most vulnerable to the scammerverse.

In the rush of trying (and failing) to get tickets for the festival – or whatever gig you’ve been anticipating since its announcement – you might try to get in the door no matter what.

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100's of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.