With ticket scams up 529%, it’s important to be aware of the fraud that is out there, specifically when booking for big events.

Summer is of course one of the most popular times to get out and about, with many people booking events they have longed to go to or using this time to plan for the rest of the year. Whether that is concerts, festivals or a football game, we all look forward to attending these events.

But as we get our out of offices on and enjoy winding down during summer, scammers are turning up the heat and using this as an opportunity to deceive.

With major events including the recent UCI world championships and festivals like Reading and Leeds around the corner, the skyrocketing demand for these events means many consumers will be caught up in the race to attend, rather than ensuring they are getting legitimate tickets.

Over the last few years, fraudsters have become more creative when it comes to online scams, which has led to the creation of convincing, well designed and deceiving fake ticket websites.

The anonymity offered by online transactions paves the way for fraudsters to operate discreetly and avoid identification, which makes it challenging when it comes to conviction or investigation.

To combat these issues, businesses and consumers must ensure that they stay informed and ensure they follow best practices when purchasing tickets online.

Whilst this is the responsibility of the consumer, event organisers and ticket companies must implement more robust security measures to protect their consumers against fraudulent activities.

As Scotland’s leading organisation for building resilience against cybercrime and fraud amongst businesses, here are the Cyber and Fraud Centre – Scotland’s five top tips for those purchasing tickets online and how to avoid being hoodwinked:

1 – Buy tickets from official sources
It is important to always purchase event tickets directly through a trusted source, such as an official website or authorised ticket agents.

Avoid third party sellers or online market places that offer the tickets at a lower price as these are more than likely to be fraudulent. Always double check the web address of the event pages to ensure it matches the official website as scammers often replicate these sites.

2 – Look for secure connections
Check the website has a secure connection before entering any forms of payment or personal information. If the site is not secure, there will be no padlock next to the http:// address. By having a padlock next to the web address, this ensures your data is protected against cyber-criminals.

3 – Verify reputations
When buying from a reseller or individual sellers, ensure you have researched their reputation thoroughly and check for reviews or feedback from previous customers are reputable websites. Always stick to sellers with a proven track record of successful transactions along with positive reviews.

4 – Check ticket details carefully

Before completing any ticket transaction, review all ticket details, including event date and time, the venue and seating/standing arrangements. Fraudsters may tweak this information to deceive the buyer, if something seems off about the ticket contact the event organiser or ticket agent for verification and confirmation.

Recommended reading

• Social media sites ‘making it easy’ for scammers to trade stolen information
• Make it social secure landmark deal with the ticket factory
• Millions lost to computer software service fraud

5 – Avoid public WiFi for ticket purchases

It may be obvious but where possible, avoid making ticket purchases whilst connected to a public network. This can be vulnerable to hacking attempts. By using a secure at home WiFi network, you will ensure your transaction is safe.

By following these tips and staying vigilant, you will reduce the likelihood of being caught out by fraudsters and will get ahead of the scam, before it’s too late.