Soccer fans cautioned about a 36% increase in ticket scams before World Cup 2026: ‘Very convincing’

Warning of Ticket Fraud Ahead of World Cup

Major British banks have raised alarms about a potential increase in ticket fraud as the World Cup approaches, cautioning that rising prices might entice fans into the traps set by scammers.

Lloyds Bank has noted a 36% rise in ticket fraud linked to the Premier League during the past season, and victims, on average, lost around $280.

The bank is advising soccer fans heading to the U.S. to remain vigilant, as the high demand for World Cup tickets may make them targets for fraudsters selling fake tickets and luxury packages.

Interestingly, Canada and Mexico, the hosts for the tournament, enforce stricter regulations on ticket resales compared to the U.S. Meanwhile, ticket prices in the U.S. have become exorbitant. For example, FIFA recently priced tickets for the July 19 final at New Jersey’s MetLife Stadium at $32,970—three times more than the previous record for a ticket price.

Liz Ziegler, the director of fraud prevention at Lloyds, stated, “Fraudsters are focusing on fans who feel a sense of urgency, particularly those eager to score hard-to-get tickets for significant matches. This is genuinely concerning. We just want our fans to enjoy the tournament without losing money.”

Many fans, especially those on tighter budgets, are being drawn to unofficial sellers who advertise appealing deals amidst the high costs of travel and accommodation.

The bank pointed out that scammers are flooding social media with various fraudulent offerings, including fake listings, counterfeit QR codes, false waiting lists, and dubious “pre-release” deals.

Typically, victims are pressured to make payments via bank transfers, which are hard to recover, leaving them disappointed and ignored. Lloyds mentions that many of these advertisements appear professional, with some utilizing AI-generated images.

Widespread outrage among fans is palpable due to the soaring prices for this year’s matches.

On the official FIFA website, tickets for the June 12 match between the U.S. and Paraguay start at $2,000, while the cheapest VIP tickets for the finals were listed at over $16,000 as of Monday. Costs, though, might fluctuate because of FIFA’s dynamic pricing method, which adjusts ticket rates based on demand.

Ticketmaster, a leading ticket resale service, had the June 12 and final games priced at $1,000 and $9,000, respectively, according to its listings.

In comparison, the average ticket price for the 2022 World Cup Finals in Qatar was around $1,600.

In an exclusive phone interview with The Post, President Donald Trump expressed that he’s not planning to pay for a ticket to see the U.S. men’s team play in Los Angeles next month.

“I didn’t realize it was that high,” he responded shortly after FIFA President Gianni Infantino defended the prices. “Naturally, I would love to attend, but honestly, I won’t even pay.”

Trump added, “I haven’t seen it yet, but we’ll have to see,” reminiscing about his role in securing the U.S. a spot in the tournament during his presidency.

He further mentioned, “I would feel disappointed if the folks in Queens, Brooklyn, and my supporters couldn’t attend, but this is a remarkable achievement. I hope those who voted for me can go.”