Many Taylor Swift fans anticipating the singer's summer performances fell victim to deceitful schemes in the UK.
Reports from banking authorities suggest scammers swindled fans out of over $1.24 million.
Amid the frenzy surrounding the upcoming UK Eras Tour, a bank has seen a surge in reports from over 600 customers who fell victim to scams.
The average loss was $413 per person, with some individuals duped out of as much as $1,247.
A striking 90% of these fraudulent ticket schemes were initiated on the popular social media platform Facebook. It was also discovered that individuals between the ages of 25 and 34 were the prime targets of fraudulent activities.
Eras Tour Tickets Scam
The UK eagerly anticipates Swift's performances in June and August, as tickets have been in high demand.
In December 2023, scammers took advantage of a security breach in a Swiftie's Facebook account by posing as her and advertising fake Swift tickets for sale.
A group of friends became victims of the scheme, each unknowingly sending around $934, only to realize later that the advertisements were deceptive and the tickets were non-existent.
"I know of at least three, but I think the police said there were four that have actually bought the tickets," says a Swift fan Karen Elrick from Glasgow.
"And I think as soon as the money's gone through, they're then just blocked on the Facebook account."
Despite numerous requests, the account remains active on Facebook as the authorities struggle to make headway in the case.
The fraudsters repeatedly share identical messages, only to quickly delete them within a day to evade detection by Facebook's scrutiny.
Swifties Beware
"It's easy to let our emotions get the better of us when we find out our favorite artist is going to be performing live," advised Liz Ziegler, Lloyds Bank fraud prevention chief.
"But it's important not to let those feelings cloud our judgment when trying to get hold of tickets."
"Buying directly from reputable, authorized platforms is the only way to guarantee you're paying for a genuine ticket. Always pay by debit or credit card for the most excellent protection."
She cautioned, "If you're being asked to pay by bank transfer, particularly from a seller you've found on social media, that should immediately set alarm bells ringing."
Fraud schemes frequently revolve around deceptive promotions on various online platforms, promising access to popular events or no longer available tickets.
Individuals who fall victim to these scams must make upfront ticket payments.
However, once the transaction is complete, the perpetrators vanish.
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