Santander is proactively contacting customers to warn them about a rising wave of ticket scams that have resulted in an average loss of £183 per victim. The bank, with branches across Birmingham and beyond, aims to protect customers from falling prey to these increasingly sophisticated fraud attempts.
According to Santander, scammers are especially active on social media platforms, enticing customers with offers of cheap tickets for concerts, festivals, and football matches. The bank explains the typical red flags to watch out for: urgency to complete a sale, unusually low ticket prices, photos as ‘proof’ of tickets without proper verification, and requests for payment via bank transfer or ‘friends and family’ options. Often, the conversation is moved off official selling sites, making it harder to track.
Santander urges customers to buy tickets only from official websites or authorized resale platforms. Customers should avoid sending money to unknown individuals, check that payment sites use secure connections starting with “https,” and steer clear of suspicious links in messages. The bank also notes that some football ticket resales may be illegal and emphasizes buying tickets directly from clubs or their official partners.
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“If a deal feels rushed, secretive, or too good to be true, it probably is,” advises Santander. Customers are encouraged to visit Santander’s Mobile Fraud Hub for more information on protecting themselves and to stay vigilant against other types of fraud.
Importantly, Santander reminds customers that the bank will never ask them to log in through links sent via messages or request personal details such as passwords or security codes. Communications from Santander will always include partial details like the last four digits of an account or card number or the last three characters of a postcode for verification.
By raising awareness and educating customers, Santander aims to help them enjoy their events safely without falling victim to scams.