Ticket fraud costs UK consumers millions of pounds every year. Fake tickets, cloned listings, and phantom sellers are all common tactics used by scammers targeting fans desperate to see popular events. If you have been a victim, reporting the fraud is important for three reasons: it creates an official record, it helps the authorities build cases against serial offenders, and it may help you recover your money. Here is exactly how to report a ticket scam in the UK.
What counts as ticket fraud?
Ticket fraud includes any situation where someone deliberately deceives you in connection with the sale of event tickets. Common types include:
- Fake tickets: Tickets that look genuine but have been fabricated, with barcodes or QR codes that do not scan
- Duplicate tickets: The same legitimate ticket sold to multiple people, so only the first person to arrive gets in
- Non-delivery: You pay for tickets that never arrive and the seller disappears
- Phishing: Fake websites that mimic legitimate ticketing platforms to steal your payment details
- Social media scams: Sellers on Instagram, Facebook, or Twitter offering tickets they do not have
Step 1: Gather your evidence
Before reporting, collect every piece of evidence you can. This will make the reporting process smoother and give the authorities the best chance of taking action:
- Screenshots of the listing or advert where you found the tickets
- All messages and correspondence with the seller (emails, WhatsApp messages, DMs)
- Payment records (bank statements, PayPal transaction details, payment app receipts)
- The seller's name, email address, phone number, and any social media profiles
- The website URL if you bought from a website
- Photos of the tickets themselves if you received any
- Any other details about the seller or the transaction
Do not delete any messages or correspondence, even if the seller asks you to.
Step 2: Report to Action Fraud
Action Fraud is the UK's national reporting centre for fraud and cybercrime. It is run by the City of London Police and is the correct place to report ticket scams. You can report in two ways:
Online reporting (recommended)
Visit the Action Fraud website at actionfraud.police.uk and use their online reporting tool. The process takes around 20 to 30 minutes and asks you to provide details about the fraud, the suspect, and your losses. You will receive a crime reference number at the end, which you should keep safe.
Phone reporting
Call Action Fraud on 0300 123 2040. Lines are open Monday to Friday, 8am to 8pm. Phone reporting can be useful if you find the online form difficult to navigate or if you need to discuss the details with someone.
Reports are assessed by the National Fraud Intelligence Bureau (NFIB), which analyses the information and passes viable cases to the relevant police force for investigation. Not all reports will lead to an investigation, but every report contributes to the intelligence picture and helps identify patterns and serial offenders.
Step 3: Report to your bank
Contact your bank or payment provider immediately. If you paid by bank transfer, ask about the Contingent Reimbursement Model (CRM) code, which many UK banks have signed up to. Under this voluntary code, banks should reimburse customers who are victims of authorised push payment (APP) fraud, provided the customer took reasonable steps to verify the payee.
If you paid by credit or debit card, request a chargeback. For credit card payments over £100, you may also have a claim under Section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act 1974. For a detailed guide on this process, see our guide to chargebacks for event tickets.
If you paid via PayPal, open a dispute through the PayPal Resolution Centre within 180 days of the transaction.
Step 4: Report to the platform
If the scam took place on a specific platform (Facebook Marketplace, Instagram, eBay, Gumtree, etc.), report the seller and the listing to that platform. Most platforms have dedicated fraud reporting processes and will remove the listing and may suspend the seller's account.
If you bought from a fake website, report it to the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) at report.ncsc.gov.uk. They can take action to have fraudulent websites taken down.
Step 5: Report to trading standards
If the seller appeared to be operating as a business (rather than an individual), report them to trading standards via Citizens Advice on 0808 223 1133. Trading standards can investigate and take enforcement action against businesses engaged in fraudulent practices.
What happens after you report?
Action Fraud will issue you a crime reference number. This is useful for insurance claims, bank disputes, and any further correspondence. The NFIB will review your report and, if there is sufficient evidence and a viable line of enquiry, pass the case to a police force for investigation.
Be aware that not all reports lead to arrests or prosecutions. Fraud investigation is complex, and resources are limited. However, your report is still valuable because it contributes to intelligence that helps identify and disrupt organised fraud networks.
How to protect yourself in future
- Buy tickets from official sources: the venue box office, the artist's official website, or reputable ticketing platforms
- Be very cautious of social media sellers, especially those offering sold-out tickets at face value or below
- Never pay by bank transfer to an individual
- Check the URL carefully if buying online, and look for HTTPS and a valid security certificate
- If a deal seems too good to be true, it almost certainly is
- Use a credit card where possible for the strongest buyer protection
- For more detailed advice, read our guide to protecting yourself when buying resale tickets
The Society of Ticket Agents and Retailers (STAR) also maintains a list of authorised ticket agents at star.org.uk, which can help you verify whether a seller is legitimate.
Disclaimer: This guide provides general information about reporting ticket fraud in the UK. It is not legal advice. If you have been a victim of fraud, contact Action Fraud and your bank as soon as possible.
