Five common scams at concerts and finals, and how each one works

1. The same ticket sold several times

PDF tickets can be copied without limit. The scammer buys one real ticket, sells the file to ten people and only the first to arrive gets in. With mobile tickets transferred in the official app this cannot happen, because the transfer removes the ticket from the seller. Always prefer the official transfer and be wary of PDFs for events that use mobile ticketing.

2. The profile that 'can't go anymore'

In groups and social networks someone announces a change of plans and sells at the price they paid. The profile is new or stolen, asks for payment upfront and disappears. Ask for a video call showing the ticket in the app, pay at the moment of transfer and never before seeing the ticket in your name.

3. The 'official' resale that isn't

Pages with the club crest, the league's colours and a name close to the official one. Clubs and organisers publish who their authorised resellers are; if the site is not on that list, it is not official, however it looks. The same goes for paid ads at the top of search results: a position on Google is not a seal of legitimacy.

4. The 'employee' with special access

Someone presents themselves as staff of the stadium, the promoter or the artist and offers complimentary tickets, a box or backstage access for a 'symbolic' amount. That channel does not exist. Complimentary tickets are not sold and special access is not bought by message.

5. The refund that becomes a second scam

After losing money, the victim is contacted by a 'recovery office' promising to get it back for an advance fee. It is the same group, or another that bought the victim list. Legitimate recovery goes through the bank, the card network and the police, and never charges first.

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