Lloyds issues £215 three-word summer warning

Lloyds Bank has issued a three-word warning to football fans ahead of the FIFA World Cup next month, which reads “Stop! Think Fraud”. The bank has teamed up with the government to urge supporters to guard against scams when buying match tickets. Newly released data from Lloyds shows football ticket scams increased by 36% during the current Premier League season.

The findings are based on thousands of scam cases recorded between October 2025 and March 2026. And with the World Cup, hosted in the USA, Canada and Mexico, set to be the most-watched football event, Lloyds said criminals are expected to exploit international demand and target big-name fixtures. On average, victims lost £215 during the current Premier League season. However, some fans paid hundreds or even thousands of pounds for ‘season tickets’ or VIP seats that never existed.

Lloyds warned that hopeful football fans are expected to pay far more for World Cup tickets, potentially leading to even higher losses, especially for those also paying to travel abroad.

Lord Hanson, Minister for Fraud, said: “As excitement builds for the World Cup, fraudsters are preparing to exploit loyal fans searching for tickets. I urge all football supporters hunting for tickets to Stop! Think Fraud and show fraudsters the red card.

“Only buy directly from FIFA or the FIFA Resale Marketplace. Missing out on a big match is disappointing, but becoming a victim to a scam makes it even harder to bear.

“Our new fraud strategy sets out how we will use every tool at our disposal to disrupt and dismantle criminal operations, bring fraudsters to justice and strengthen support for victims.”

Liz Ziegler, fraud prevention director at Lloyds, said: “Fraudsters thrive on urgency and target fans looking for hard-to-get tickets for big-name fixtures. Most of the football ticket scams we see start on social media, especially Facebook and Instagram, before the criminal moves the buyer onto WhatsApp and insists on a bank transfer to pay.

“It’s incredibly convincing, and we don’t want fans to lose their money trying to support their team. We’re urging supporters to stay alert and stick to official ticketing channels.”

Lloyds said most football ticket scams begin on social media, where criminals advertise spare tickets before moving conversations to WhatsApp and pushing victims to make a bank transfer. Once the money is sent, the scammer blocks the buyer and disappears.

Supporters have also been warned that fraudsters may use fake waiting lists, counterfeit QR codes and bogus “pre-release” offers to lure people in.

Fans are being advised to take their time, avoid paying by bank transfer, be wary of “too good to be true” offers and only use official tournament or club-approved ticket sellers.

Many Brits have already come across World Cup tickets scams in various forms.

Robert Paterson, 39, a barber shop owner from Edinburgh, said: “Like any passionate Scotland supporter, I’m over the moon we’ve qualified for the World Cup for the first time in nearly 20 years.

“I’ve been on the hunt for tickets, particularly for the Brazil game. I’ve spent time on various platforms like X and Facebook in the hope of securing seats, but I’m always nervous about what’s real and what could be a scam.

“I own a popular chain of barber shops ‘Rag and Bone’, so I have been swapping tips and stories with lots of clients in the barber’s chair who have also been looking for legitimate tickets.

“In the process, I’ve definitely come across a number of suspected fake or questionable listings, with many tickets appearing either massively overpriced or outright dodgy, especially on Facebook. It definitely takes a bit of the excitement out of buying tickets when you’re having to worry if it’s real or not.”

Anyone who believes they may have been a victim of fraud is encouraged to report it at www.reportfraud.police.uk or by calling 0300 123 2040.