Taylor Swift fans have suffered a big loss due to ticket scams for her Eras tour. It's estimated that they lost around $1.2 million.
Now, fans are being cautioned about fake ticket sellers.
Taylor Swift fans issue warning after being victims of $1.2M Eras ticket scams
Reports suggest that these scams have resulted in a collective loss estimated at $1.2 million.
Fans of Taylor Swift were extremely excited when tickets for her Eras tour went on sale in July 2023. The tour quickly sold out, adding to the anticipation.
As the tour gets closer to Europe, fans have been searching online for last-minute ticket options or resales.
Unfortunately, many Taylor Swift fans have been tricked while trying to buy tickets. This has led Lloyds Bank to issue a strong warning to protect fans from losing more money.
They want to prevent further financial losses for people who love music.
According to Lloyds Bank's press release, based on its own customer data, over 600 individuals have come forward to report being scammed.
The bank believes that around 3,000 people in the UK have likely been victims of the ticket scams since the tickets were made available.
These scams have resulted in fraudsters making more than $1.2 million in total.
On average, customers said they lost about $410, but some fans had even bigger losses, over $1,200.
The scams mostly started with fake ads or posts on Facebook.
Lloyds Bank mentioned that more than 90% of the reported cases began on Facebook.
There were unofficial Facebook groups with thousands of members where people could buy and sell Taylor Swift tickets.
The scammers would offer tickets at lower prices or claim to have access to sold-out events, but once buyers paid upfront, the scammers disappeared, leaving the fans with no tickets and their money gone.
These scams have resulted in fraudsters making more than $1.2 million in total.
Liz Ziegler, who is in charge of preventing fraud at Lloyds Bank, showed understanding for the devoted Taylor Swift fans eagerly anticipating the Eras tour in the UK.
Ziegler advised people should buy tickets only from trustworthy and authorized websites to ensure they are genuine.
She also recommended using debit or credit cards for payment because they provide the highest level of protection.
Ziegler warned against sellers who ask for payment through bank transfers, especially if they are found on social media, as this could be a warning sign of potential fraud.
Meta Facebook also warns Taylor Swift fans of the Eras ticket scams.
After the ticket scams, Meta, the company that owns Facebook, said they are dedicated to tackling online purchase scams.
They highlighted their continuous efforts to invest in measures to protect against fraud and their collaboration with law enforcement to fight this problem.
Meta advised people using Facebook Marketplace to be careful.
They suggested verifying the item in person before making any payments and reporting any scams right away for immediate action.
