With Taylor Swift’s Dublin concerts approaching, and a host of summer festivals about to kick off in Ireland, Bank of Ireland is warning consumers to be aware of potential ticket scammers.
Consumers are being urged to be wary of deals that are too good to be true when it comes to the much sought-after tickets for Taylor Swift's Eras Tour in Dublin.
The American pop star is bringing her smash-hit world tour to Dublin's Aviva Stadium on June 28, 29, and 30.
Tickets for the string of concerts sold out quickly after going on sale last year via Ticketmaster.ie, prompting many fans to turn to resale options which can sometimes be fraudulent.
Bank of Ireland said in a statement on Monday, June 24 that scammers try to lure consumers by offering them tickets, often through a social media post or online advert.
They may focus on popular sold-out gigs, and consumers are asked to pay directly, sending money from their bank account to another via bank transfer, which provides little protection.
Once the payment is transferred, the seller usually cuts all contact, and the ticket never arrives.
Nicola Sadlier, Head of Fraud at Bank of Ireland, said: “With Taylor Swift playing in Dublin this week and summer festivals kicking off, it’s important that concertgoers are alert to fraud.
“At times like this, fraudsters are hoping your heart will overrule your head. They are counting on people being so keen to get to see their favourite artist play that they ignore the warning signs and take a chance on the offer of a ticket even if it sounds too good to be true. Never, ever take that chance.
"Our advice is when you are buying online, only buy items from reputable sites.
“Scammers know that certain tickets are very much in demand – so don’t get carried away if a message or advert pops up for a popular gig.
"If something sounds too good to be true, it’s probably fraud.
"If you find yourself targeted, our advice is to act quickly and contact your bank immediately so they can try to stop the payment.
"Scammers can strike when least expected and we want people to be alert to the danger so they don’t end up at a loss.”
Bank of Ireland says to look out for these red flags when trying to purchase concert tickets:
- Selling tickets for sold-out gigs or for prices that are too good to be true.
- Seller is looking for a quick sale.
- Seller doesn't give you the opportunity to see the ticket in person.
- Seller pressures you to make a quick decision.
- Adverts or messages that pop up on your social media - fraudsters can pay the social media companies to have their ads in front of you.
Bank of Ireland says that if you think you’ve been the target of a scam, contact your bank immediately so that the bank can try to take action to stop a fraud in progress and potentially recover funds.
Bank of Ireland customers can call the Fraud Team 24/7, on the Freephone line 1800 946 764.
Comments