Lisa Webb, Which? Consumer
Law Expert, said:
"Scammers are always looking for new ways to part people from
their hard-earned cash and unfortunately, Oasis tickets being in
such high demand has created a perfect storm for criminals.
"Fans of the band have already been subject to potentially
unlawful pricing practices by Ticketmaster, now they are
being exposed to all sorts of fake adverts, posts and listings on
social media where criminals are hoping to trick them into
purchasing tickets that don't exist.
"At this point, it's safest to assume that any Oasis tickets
being advertised on social media are fake. If you spot any
suspicious posts, you can report them to the social media
platform and the National Cyber Security Centre to
investigate."
ENDS
Notes to editors:
https://www.which.co.uk/news/article/oasis-tickets-ticketmasters-in-demand-pricing-could-be-in-breach-of-consumer-law-a99yW5M0BI4E
https://www.which.co.uk/policy-and-insight/article/which-calls-on-oasis-and-ticketmaster-to-refund-fans-hit-by-inflated-in-demand-ticket-prices-aodXP1g8g3Pt
PA COPY
Oasis fans have lost more than £2m to ticket scams,
Lloyds estimates
By Vicky Shaw, PA Personal Finance Correspondent
This story is embargoed until 00:01 - 24 Apr 2025
Oasis fans have collectively lost more than £2 million to scams
since tickets for the band's long-awaited reunion tour went on
sale last year, a major bank estimates.
Lloyds Banking Group based the calculation on the volume of fraud
reports made by its own customers.
Oasis fans make up more than half (56%) of all reported concert
ticket scams so far this year, according to Lloyds' data, losing
£436 on average.
The biggest amount lost in a single case so far was more than
£1,700, suggesting many fans are willing to pay well over face
value, the bank said.
The average loss to criminals pretending to sell Oasis tickets is
around £200 more than the average concert ticket scam loss, it
added.
People aged 35 to 44 are the most likely to be scammed, making up
nearly a third (30%) of all cases, reports to Lloyds indicate.
Edinburgh, Warrington and Manchester have the highest numbers of
victims of the scam, with the top 10 locations overall making up
a quarter (25%) of cases, the banking group said.
The bank found there had been more than 1,000 cases reported to
it since fans' scramble for tickets started last summer.
Based on its share of banking customers, it estimates that across
the UK there are likely to have been at least 5,000 victims since
tickets went on sale, with over £2 million lost to fraudsters.
The analysis was based on concert ticket purchase scams reported
by Lloyds Banking Group customers, including customers of Lloyds
Bank, Halifax and Bank of Scotland, where Oasis was referenced as
part of the claim, between August 2024 and March 2025.
In a warning about where many scams are originating, the bank
highlighted unofficial groups set up on social media, dedicated
to buying and selling tickets for the Oasis tour.
Purchase scams happen when someone is tricked into sending money
via bank transfer to buy goods or services that do not exist.
Lloyds said ticket scams often involve fake adverts, posts or
listings on social media, offering tickets at discounted prices,
or access to events which have already sold out at inflated
prices.
Fraudsters will also exploit fans' willingness to pay more for
scarce tickets by falsely claiming to have them available.
Victims are asked to pay upfront for the tickets and scammers
vanish after receiving the money.
Scams often happen in two waves the first when tickets are
released for sale, and again as the event date approaches.
Liz Ziegler, fraud prevention director, Lloyds, said: “The Oasis
tour is the latest target for ticket scammers, with millions of
pounds of fans' money stolen before the gigs even kick off.
“The fact that so many cases start with fake listings on social
media, often in violation of the platforms' own rules,
underscores the importance of these companies taking stronger
action to tackle scams.
“It's vital that consumers feel empowered to shop safely online.
Buying directly from reputable, authorised retailers is the only
way to guarantee you're paying for a genuine ticket.
“If you're asked to pay via bank transfer, particularly by a
seller you've found on social media, that should immediately set
alarm bells ringing.”
Here are the top 10 hotspots where people are most likely to live
who have reported falling victim to Oasis ticket scams, according
to Lloyds Banking Group:
1. Edinburgh
2. Warrington
3. Manchester
4. Newcastle upon Tyne
5. Sheffield
6. Glasgow
7. Nottingham
8. Birmingham
9. Plymouth
10. Newport (South Wales)
Here are some tips from Lloyds for buying tickets safely:
– Stick to trusted retailers
Buy tickets from reputable, official platforms. Be cautious when
dealing with third-party sellers.
– Take care on social media
Fraudsters can easily create fake ads, even using images of real
tickets.
– Consider whether a “bargain” is too good to be true
If a ticket is being sold at an unusually low price or for a
sold-out event, this is a red flag. Consider whether the deal
seems realistic.
