Safer Internet Day 2026

New research led by former cybercrime police officer Nick Hawe exposes a worrying truth: most UK fans can’t tell a genuine ticket from a fake on social media.

It found that the majority (55%) of Brits cannot confidently determine whether a ticket listing on social media is real or a scam.

In fact, 26% of Brits have bought tickets on social media because they seemed cheap, only for them to turn out to be fake, losing an average of £258.

Trust in purchasing tickets on these platforms is low, with 60% saying they do not trust buying tickets on X, 54% on Instagram and 53% on Facebook. 

However, such is the desire to land tickets, that nearly half (45%) reported they would still risk losing money buying on social media, even if they suspected it might be fake.

With fan demand likely to surge this year for major concerts such as Harry Styles, BTS and Ariana Grande, as well as sporting events like the World Cup, Get Safe Online has appointed Nick Hawe, former cybercrime police officer, as its Ticket Safety Expert to help protect fans from ticket scams.

As part of Safer Internet Day, personal experiences from those who had been hit by fraudsters were also shared… “We thought we were buying Oasis tickets from a family friend - then £700 disappeared and the tickets never came. Seeing how heartbroken my daughter was devastating”.

Another victim said “I spent all my holiday money on tickets for a Leverkusen vs Dortmund game. Standing outside the stadium and realising they were fake was devastating - I had to call my dad just to get through the rest of the trip”.

The research comes at a pivotal time, as the UK government plans to introduce price caps on resale tickets.

 Nick Hawe, Ticket Safety Expert said: “Ahead of a stellar year of live events it’s alarming to see that 55% of Brits aren’t able to spot a ticket scam.

“To make this worse, the Government is proposing the introduction of price caps on resale tickets exposing even more fans to fraud on social media”. 

Data from Ireland where caps exist shows significantly higher risk: fraud rates are 13.6%, nearly four times that of the UK.

This was illustrated by NFL Dublin, where the absence of legal resale options pushed fans to social media, triggering an 80% spike in ticket-scam victims and a 48% rise in losses, with 17–24-year-olds most affected.

Fans can visit the “Safe Ticket Buyer Tools” page on Get Safe Online, offering free tools recommended by Ticket Safety Expert, Nick Hawe, on how to stay protected from online fraud.