Taylor Swift fans have lost over $1.2 million to online scams trying to buy tickets to her high-demand Eras tour.
Tickets for Taylor Swift's now-sold out Eras Tour first went on sale in July 2023 and as she prepares to head to Europe, fans have been scouring the internet to try and find last minute ticket deals or resales.
However, it's been discovered hoards of Swifties have been scammed in their bid to buy a ticket to see Swift perform and Lloyds Bank has since issued an 'urgent warning' to try and prevent more music-lovers losing out on hundreds or even thousands.
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Using its own customer data, Lloyds Bank revealed in a press release uploaded to its website earlier today (17 April) that over 600 customers have come forward to report being scammed.
"It estimates that across the UK there are likely to have been at least 3,000 victims since tickets went on sale, with over $1.2 million being lost to fraudsters so far," it adds.
The average amount lost per customer is reported as around $410, but some customers even lost over $1,200.
But how?
Well, Lloyds explains 'more than 90 percent of reported cases' began with 'fake adverts or posts on Facebook'.
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The bank reports: "A search of Facebook revealed dozens of unofficial groups have been set up, many with tens of thousands of members, specifically for people looking to buy and sell tickets for Taylor Swift concerts."
Fake adverts or posts typically offer tickets at 'discounted prices' or 'access to events which have already sold out an inflated prices,' requesting customers 'pay upfront for the tickets' before disappearing soon after the money is sent.
"There are often two waves of fraud; the first when tickets go on sale and the second around the time an event takes place," Lloyds notes.
Liz Ziegler, Fraud Prevention Director, Lloyds Bank, said: “For her legion of dedicated Swifties, the excitement is building ahead of Taylor’s Eras Tour finally touching down in the UK this summer.
"However cruel fraudsters have wasted no time in targeting her most loyal fans as they rush to pick up tickets for her must-see concerts.
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"It’s easy to let our emotions get the better of us when we find out our favourite artist is going to be performing live, but it’s important not to let those feelings cloud our judgement when trying to get hold of tickets.
"Buying directly from reputable, authorised platforms is the only way to guarantee you’re paying for a genuine ticket. Even then, always pay by debit or credit card for the greatest protection".
"If you’re being asked to pay by bank transfer, particularly from a seller you’ve found on social media, that should immediately set alarm bells ringing."
A spokesperson for Meta told UNILAD: "With tens of millions of people using our apps daily in the UK, we recognise our important role in tackling the industry-wide issue of online purchase scams. We are continually investing in protections against fraud on our platforms, and work closely with law enforcement to tackle this issue. We advise users of Facebook Marketplace to never pay for something until they see it in person and to report any scams immediately so we can take action."
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UNILAD has contacted Taylor Swift's representatives for comment.
Topics: Taylor Swift, Music, Money, UK News, World News, Celebrity, Facebook, Social Media