HSBC and Lloyds urge Brits to keep receipts as 1 type of scam rising | Personal Finance | Finance
Major UK banks have warned Brits after a surge in a cruel scam. Scammers continually devise new and creative ways to defraud hardworking Brits out of their money, and one of the most common scams in modern times involves exploiting dedicated and desperate football and music fans. HSBC’s latest scam warning involves ticket fraud, which they say “happens to thousands of music, sports and other fans every year who get tricked into buying fake or non-existent tickets”.
Lloyds Bank revealed in a 2025 study that football fans lost a staggering £2.5 million after falling victim to ticket fraud, with the average loss amounting to around £218 every time. Some big gigs and sporting events are on the horizon in 2026, so experts have issued fresh warnings for consumers to be aware of. “If you buy from unofficial sources, you could be a victim of fraud,” HSBC warns.
HSBC explained that most cases involve someone posing as a ticket seller on social media. Supporting this claim, Lloyds Bank’s study found that three-quarters of recorded ticket scams originated from this method.
HSBC has urged sports and music fans to follow certain steps when buying tickets to any major event. For example, they should obtain and retain a receipt until after the event has occurred.
HSBC urges those hopeful for event tickets to:
- Buy tickets only from the venue’s box office or official sellers (such as Ticketmaster)
- Don’t click on social media, text or email links or attachments offering tickets. They could link to fraudulent or malware sites
- Avoid paying for tickets via bank transfer
- Check sellers’ privacy and returns policies
- Keep receipts until after the event has happened
When it came to football matches, Lloyds found that Liverpool fans were the most likely to be caught out by ticket fraud. Meanwhile, people aged between 25 and 34 were the most common victims.
“If you’re offered tickets for a match that’s in high demand, don’t let the fear of missing out make you rush your decision. Take a moment to stop, think, and check if the offer is genuine,” the bank tells customers.
Meanwhile, HSBC points out that only criminals will rush or panic you. This will be a warning sign to look out for when purchasing tickets.
