Fake Tickets Scam – Concerts, GAA, Festivals
Medium RiskGot a message, call or offer like this?
Take your time. Treat it as a scam until you have checked it yourself.
- Don't tap links, reply, or ring numbers it gives you. On a call, hang up.
- Don't pay, and don't share card details, PINs, passwords or codes.
- Check with whoever it claims to be, using contact details you find yourself.
Overview
Scammers offer event tickets for sale online - often just before a big concert, GAA match, or festival - and vanish after receiving payment via Revolut or bank transfer. Victims either receive fake tickets that don't scan, or nothing at all.
Typical Targets
- •Fans desperate to attend sold-out events
- •People seeking last-minute tickets
- •Younger adults active on social media
- •Anyone searching for below-face-value tickets
Why This Scam Works
- •High demand for sold-out events creates desperation
- •Time pressure before events reduces due diligence
- •Social media makes it easy to appear legitimate
- •Revolut/bank transfers are hard to reverse
- •Scammers provide convincing screenshots of "tickets"
Example
Before a sold-out concert at the Aviva Stadium, hundreds of Irish fans were scammed through Facebook and Twitter. One group paid €1,200 for four tickets via Revolut. The seller provided PDF tickets that looked genuine but had duplicated barcodes. At the venue, they discovered multiple people had the same tickets – none were allowed entry.
* An illustration of how this scam works, not from a victim case we hold.
How to Avoid This Scam
- Only buy from official ticket vendors or authorised resale sites
- Use payment methods with buyer protection (PayPal Goods & Services, credit cards)
- Never pay via bank transfer or Revolut to strangers
- Be suspicious of prices well below face value
- Check the seller's profile – new accounts are red flags
- Meet in person at a safe location if buying privately
If You've Been Caught Out
Don't panic – take these steps immediately:
- 1Report to your bank immediately – they may be able to help
- 2Report the seller's profile to the platform (Facebook, Twitter, etc.)
- 3Report to An Garda Síochána
- 4Keep all evidence: messages, payment receipts, screenshots
- 5Warn others by reporting to consumer forums
- 6Check if your card or PayPal offers purchase protection
* This information is for guidance only. Always seek professional advice for your specific situation.
Who to Contact for Help
Your Bank
Check your card
Attempt payment recovery
An Garda Síochána
Local station
Report the fraud
Ticketmaster Ireland
0818 903 001
Verify ticket authenticity
CCPC
01 402 5555
Consumer advice
New scams, as they appear
New scam warnings and safety tips, as we publish them.