Love the Show, Not the Scam: Your Guide to Safe Ticket Buying.
There’s nothing worse than rocking up to a concert – wearing a fire outfit and ready to sing your heart out – only to find out your ticket isn’t legit.
That’s becoming a regular occurrence for a growing number of Aussie concertgoers, according to ticket resale platform Tixel.
Their annual Future of Ticketing Report says a staggering one in six Aussie concertgoers have lost money to ticket fraud in the past 12 months.
Gen Z lost out the most out of any generation, the report found, with 30 per cent falling for ticket fraud compared to 13 per cent of over-30s.
With huge acts like Harry Styles, Bruno Mars, BTS and Foo Fighters set to hit the stage in Melbourne in the coming months, here are some tips to reduce your chances of being ticket fraudsters’ next victim.
Verify
Be sure about who you’re dealing with before sending cash or personal information. Taking a moment to verify the identity of the person can stop many potential scams before they even start.
Report
Report suspicious activity to the platform where it’s occurring, whether it’s Facebook Marketplace, Gumtree, or any other website. This ensures you protect not only yourself from scams, but also those who might fall victim in the future.
Alert
Report suspicious activity and scams to Scamwatch. This ensures authorities are aware of fraudulent activities and can help assist investigating them.
Offer
Offer to collect tickets and exchange money in person. This will reduce the chance of never receiving the tickets.
So, what do you do if you suspect you've been scammed?
Reach out to your bank immediately if you feel you’ve been scammed, as they can often help prevent further damage.
If a scammer does manage to get hold of your money or information, report the incident immediately to Scamwatch.
The chances of getting your cash back once you’ve been scammed are always very low, but by sticking to these guidelines, you’re well-placed to empower yourself against these threats.
Stay vigilant, take your time and sooner than you know it you’ll be on your way to that big event.
And always remember – if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.