FOOTIE fans scammed last season lost £177 each on average in fake ticket cons, stats show.
The number of supporters being fleeced also shot up by a third.
Arsenal and Liverpool fans were most likely to fall victim to online scammers.
And those aged between 25 and 34 were most likely to be suckered — with 29 per cent being taken for a ride.
Fans aged 18 to 24 were the next most prone to fall for fakes, at 27 per cent.
Lloyds Bank analysed scams reported by its customers during the 2023/24 Premier League season and compared that with the previous year.
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In that time, the number of fans reporting fake buys rose by 32 per cent.
They lost £177 on average, with some losing more than £1,000.
Scams often start with fake posts on social media or online marketplaces for tickets that do not exist.
Often they will include pictures of real tickets to trick the buyer.
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But once any money has been transferred, the fraudster then vanishes and the victim receives nothing in return.
Lloyds said those looking for match tickets should purchase them directly from the clubs or other trusted sources.
Clubs will also provide details of any authorised ticket partners on their website, which may include legitimate ways for tickets to be resold.
Fraudsters will also target major events where demand for tickets is likely to be high.
Earlier this year, Lloyds estimated fans of Taylor Swift lost more than £1million to ticket scammers over her UK tour.
Lloyds fraud prevention chief Liz Ziegler warned: “Passions run high when supporting your favourite football team and missing out on the big match after falling victim to a ticket scam can be devastating.
“Always stick to official channels as your first line of defence and avoid deals which look too good to be true.”
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
