More than £2m lost by Oasis fans to ticket scams

Looking at the volume of fraud reports made by its own customers, the Lloyds group was able to work out the amount of money lost by fans of the popular Brit Pop group.
It has been claimed that over half (56%) of all reported concert cons have been from Oasis fans, with customers losing around £436 on average.
The biggest amount lost by a fan was more than £1700, suggesting that many are willing to pay high amounts to secure tickets for the historic reunion tour.
Oasis announced a reunion tour last year (Image: PA Wire)
Brits told to 'remain vigilant' after Oasis fans lose more than £2m to ticket scams
The banking group estimates that across the UK, there are likely to have been at least 5000 victims since tickets went on sale, with more than £2 million being lost to fraudsters.
This analysis was based on concert ticket purchase scams reported by Lloyds Banking Group customers, including those who have an account with Lloyds Bank, Halifax and the Bank of Scotland.
Liz Ziegler, fraud prevention director at Lloyds, said: 'The Oasis tour is the latest target for ticket scammers, with millions of pounds of fans' money stolen before the gigs even kick off.
'The fact that so many cases start with fake listings on social media, often in violation of the platforms' own rules, underscores the importance of these companies taking stronger action to tackle scams.
'It's vital that consumers feel empowered to shop safely online. Buying directly from reputable, authorised retailers is the only way to guarantee you're paying for a genuine ticket.
'If you're asked to pay via bank transfer, particularly by a seller you've found on social media, that should immediately set alarm bells ringing.'
Lisa Webb, a consumer law expert at Which? added: 'Scammers are always looking for new ways to part people from their hard-earned cash and unfortunately, Oasis tickets being in such high demand has created a perfect storm for criminals.'
Consumers have been told to 'remain vigilant' over ticket sale scams (Image: Getty Images)
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She said: 'If you spot any suspicious posts, you can report them to the social media platform and the National Cyber Security Centre to investigate."
Guy Anker, personal finance expert at Compare the Market, warned: 'With big-name tours generating huge demand, it's important to remain vigilant to potential scams. When tickets are hard to come by, it can be tempting to buy from unofficial sources, but this often leads to disappointment and can cause significant financial loss.
'To help protect yourself, always try to book through trusted platforms, and consider using a credit card, which can sometimes offer extra protection under Section 75 if something goes wrong.'

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