Police issue a warning as ticket fraud increases in Scotland

More than 300 people in Scotland reported falling victim to online ticket fraud for major events in the first nine months of the year, according to new figures from Police Scotland.

They said almost two-thirds of the reported incidents were related to Taylor Swift's Eras Tour concerts at Edinburgh's Murrayfield Stadium in June.

Police Scotland's report showed that women aged between 18 and 24 are most at risk of this type of fraud.

Police urged people to remain “vigilant”.

Police Scotland said these frauds were not linked to the artists, venues, promoters or legitimate ticketing sites.

They said they took place on social media and online marketplaces and involved individuals and groups seeking to exploit fans for financial gain.

Motherwell's Susan Browne told BBC Scotland she was so desperate to get tickets for her 15-year-old son Saul that she was almost scammed – but “red flags” led to her pulling out of the deal at the last minute.

“Everyone wants to believe they won’t fall for a scam,” she said.

“We all like to think we're smarter, but the concert was coming up and that meant I was less diligent than I normally would have been.”

She said a friend contacted her and told her a woman in a Facebook group had sold four tickets for £155 each.

“I was suspicious at first,” Susan said, but her friend assured her that it was a closed group and that she had noticed the woman before.

Susan got the woman's phone number and messaged her about the tickets.

She initially asked if she could only buy two tickets, but the seller ignored her and explained the payment details directly to her.

Susan asked the woman to send her a request for money so she could track her down, but the seller came back with very detailed payment instructions and told her how to provide the money.

“I think at that point it would have been really stupid for me to continue, there were so many warning signs,” Susan said.

When she told her son, he said, “Mom, it was obviously a scam.”

“I would have spent this amount much more judiciously if we hadn't all been caught up in the hype and desperation to get the tickets,” Susan said.

Ultimately, Susan and Saul got tickets through a reputable ticket resale site, although she admits she had to pay “more than quota.”

“The concert was great, though,” she said.

Insp Alasdair Penny, of Police Scotland's Cybercrime Harm Prevention Unit, believes online ticket fraud is “under-reported and the actual figure will be much higher”.

He said: “Our message is: be vigilant. If a price or offer seems too good to be true, it probably is.

“Before purchasing, carefully check the ticket details for authenticity. Check the exact event information, including date, time and venue. Pay attention to the seating area or assigned seats, which may indicate counterfeit tickets.

“Buy from reputable sources, verify the bank details provided and use secure payment methods. Avoid paying with cash, wire transfers or unsecured payment methods.