Kent Festival Fans Warned: £150,000 Lost to Ticket Scams
Festival and concert lovers in Kent are being warned to watch out for ticket scammers after local victims lost a whopping £150,559 last year. Fraudsters are cashing in as the festival season approaches, targeting eager fans desperate for tickets.
Kent Police Back Action Fraud Campaign
Kent Police is teaming up with Action Fraud, the national fraud reporting centre, to raise the alarm about dodgy ticket sellers. In 2023, 190 Kent residents reported scams — losing an average of £792 each after paying for tickets they never received.
Across the UK, over 8,700 ticket fraud reports poured in last year, with a staggering £6.7 million swiped by scammers.
Top Tips to Dodge Ticket Fraud
Detective Inspector Helen Smithers of Kent’s Economic Crime Unit told us: “Big event tickets vanish fast and scammers love preying on desperate fans. If a ticket deal looks too good to be true – it probably is. Only buy from trusted sources.”
- Grab tickets only from official venues, promoters, or reputable ticket sites.
- Avoid paying by bank transfer; use credit cards or PayPal for better fraud protection.
- Use unique, strong passwords (three random words) for your email and accounts, plus enable two-step verification.
- Beware of unsolicited offers promising unbelievable deals.
- Check if the seller is a Society of Ticket Agents and Retailers (STAR) member – they follow strict rules and offer support if things go wrong. Visit the STAR website for more.
Stay sharp and keep your cash safe this summer – don’t let scammers ruin your festival fun!
