Millions of people across the UK will be sitting by their phone and laptop - sometimes multiple devices - in a bid to try and grab themselves a ticket to the most talked about concert.
Cruel Summer singer Taylor Swift is set to come to Scotland, specifically Edinburgh, on her Era's Tour next year and whilst fans may have a while to wait to see her live, they won't have long to wait when it comes to getting their tickets.
However as many await that all important e-mail and their code, fans have been warned that many people are now taking advantage of the situation and should be aware of scams.
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With adrenaline and emotions running high, competition for these tickets is fierce and fans are eager to get their hands on one.
The warning surrounds cybercriminals who may use this as an opportunity to target individuals with various social engineering attempts, from smishing, phishing and telephone-oriented attack delivery (TOAD) methods.
Matt Cooke, Cybersecurity Strategist at Proofpoint has said that due to the popularity of shows, including Taylor's, many people desperate to attend may not scrutinise emails, adverts or text as much as they want to with scammers using time-sensitive words and phrases to cause people to make fast decisions.
He explains: "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. If they fall victim to these criminals, that could lose a lot more than the price of a ticket.”
Taylor Swift Eras's Tour 2024 - how to avoid being scammed, according to Proofpoint
- 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.
- Think your Wildest Dreams have come true and you’ve been privately sent a link to buy tickets? Do not click through links or open attachments from unknown senders whether that’s over email, text, social media or online.
- So you’re 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.
- Cyber criminals know All Too Well that you will be stressed and excited, and 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.
- Don’t say Would’ve, Could’ve, Should’ve if your data is stolen. Do not share passwords with people and ensure you change passwords regularly. Consider using a password manager to help protect your personal information from being stolen.
- You Need To Calm Down. Be cautious about phone calls or emails that come out of the blue with ticket offers or other prizes.
