Oasis fans have been warned by Lloyds Bank after falling victim to scams, losing an average of £346 each during the rush to purchase tour tickets. According to analysis by the bank based on reports from its customers, some fans have had up to £1,000 stolen. The most affected age group is between 35 to 44 years old, making up 31% of reported cases. The findings were derived from purchase scams reported by Lloyds Banking Group customers, including Halifax and Bank of Scotland clients, referencing Oasis between August 27 and September 25.
The common ticket scams involve deceptive advertisements, posts, or listings on social media platforms offering tickets at discounted rates or for events already sold out, but at inflated prices, the bank highlighted. Victims are typically asked to make upfront payments for the tickets, only for the scammers to disappear after receiving the funds. Lloyds’ analysis revealed hundreds of ticket fraud claims within the one-month period, with Oasis fans constituting about 70% of reported concert ticket scams. Over 90% of cases started with fraudulent adverts or posts on social media, according to the bank’s assessment.
Liz Ziegler, fraud prevention director at Lloyds, expressed, “Predictably fraudsters wasted no time in targeting loyal Oasis fans as they scrambled to pick up tickets for next year’s must-see reunion tour.” She further advised buying tickets directly from authorised and reputable retailers to ensure authenticity. Ziegler also cautioned against paying via bank transfer, especially to sellers found on social media, as it often signals a potential scam.
Lloyds alerted that ticket scams tend to occur in two waves – initially during the ticket release phase and then as the event date approaches. Recent mandatory reimbursement rules, regulated by the Payment Systems Regulator (PSR), now require banks to reimburse victims of authorised push payment (APP) fraud, unless gross negligence is proven on the part of the customer. The reimbursement limit under the new regulations is set at £85,000, with the provision for banks to choose to repay amounts beyond this threshold. These protections apply to transactions made from October 7 onwards and do not apply retroactively.
Previously, a voluntary reimbursement code was in operation alongside some banks offering their refund assurances. The new safeguards aim to better protect consumers who have been duped into transferring money to fraudsters. Fans are advised to remain vigilant and cautious while purchasing tickets to avoid falling prey to such scams.
Overall, the threat of ticket fraud remains prevalent, especially within the music industry, and it is essential for fans to exercise diligence and prudence when buying tickets for upcoming events.