In Focus: Don’t Let Fraudsters Spoil Your Matchday
As football fever grips the nation once more, Guavapay is sounding the alarm on a growing threat: ticket scams targeting passionate fans.
With the football season well underway, scammers are cashing in on the excitement, leaving supporters out of pocket and without tickets. Recent research shows a sharp rise in fraudulent ticket sales, costing UK fans millions annually.
Research by Lloyds Bank suggests that, across the past two years, ticket fraud has cost fans an estimated £2.5 million, with over 11,000 people likely affected. Alarmingly, more than 75% of these scams begin on social media channels, where scammers capitalise on growing demand and buzz.
Key insights include:
Most targeted group: fans aged 25–34, especially supporters of high-profile Premier League clubs
Primary channel: social media platforms remain the main entry point for fraud, where fake listings lure unsuspecting buyers
While the headlines promoting this research are specific to the Premier League, there is no reason why this fraud cannot be replicated in the lower leagues. As official partner to a number of UK football clubs, such as Crystal Palace, Millwall, QPR and Rangers, Guavapay feel that this message needs to be shared more widely.
Wherever your footballing loyalties lies, and whoever you support, Guavapay recommends:
Always use secure payment platforms. Avoid shifting to bank transfers or third-party apps; stick to trusted payment methods.
Buy only from official sources. Get your tickets through clubs or verified resellers listed on their websites.
Leverage digital tickets. The Premier League’s move to make at least 70% of tickets digital by 2026/27 will enhance security, though vigilance remains essential.
Know the signs of fraud. Too-good-to-be-true deals, urgent pressure tactics or unknown sellers: all red flags.
Guavapay is proud to be a member of Stop Scams UK, a cross-sector initiative uniting organisations across banking, fintech, telecoms and technology to collaborate in the fight against fraud. As part of this coalition, we’re committed to helping protect our customers from scams, sharing best practices, contributing preventative insights and supporting consumer education.
Reflecting the collective spirit behind our membership, James Borley, Chief Compliance Officer and MLRO of Guavapay said: “Fraud is an increasing blight on the UK economy and the wellbeing – both financial and non-financial – of any of us as consumers of financial services products.
“Guavapay is honoured and excited to join Stop Scams. Our customers put their trust in us, and we have a duty to do all we can to keep them safe from exploitation. We hope that by joining forces with Stop Scams and its wider membership, we can play our part in helping to educate consumers to help protect themselves but also identify and prevent scams at their root.”
Sharing his thoughts about securing payment practice with all football clubs, Grant Wyatt, Head of Partnerships of Guavapay, added: “Football is about passion, community and shared experiences – not exploitation. Yet, as demand for tickets grows, scammers are finding new ways to target loyal supporters.
“At Guavapay, we believe it’s vital to protect fans across all levels of the game, not just in the Premier League. By raising awareness, encouraging secure purchasing, and working together through initiatives like Stop Scams UK, we can help ensure that fans excitement for the season is spent in the stands with their club, not lost to fraud.”
That sentiment captures our own mission as well: to help safeguard customers by fostering awareness, promoting responsible practices, and tackling the root causes of fraud through collaboration.
Image: Soccer Trippers on pexels.com
