Staffordshire residents are being warned about ticket selling scams after £58,840 was lost to fraudsters in the county last year.

Fraud officers are urging those who plan to buy tickets, or attend events and concerts, to stay vigilant to criminals, particularly in the summer months when country-wide reports of fraud spiked last year.

June and July had the highest levels of reporting, with 1,067 reports of ticket fraud in June and 887 in July. 

Advice from Action Fraud, the UK's national reporting centre, includes paying for tickets by credit card, being cautious of too-good-to-be-true deals, and only purchasing from verified ticket websites.

Simon Street, from our fraud team, said: “With another summer of gigs and festivals ahead, it’s vital that fans don’t let fraudsters cash in on the excitement.

“We have a wide range of summer events at venues right here across our county, so if you are looking to go along, please be vigilant.”

Advice from Action Fraud includes:

•            Only buy tickets from the venue’s box office, official promoter or agent, or a well-known ticketing website

•            Avoid paying for tickets by bank transfer, especially if buying from someone unknown. Using a credit card gives you a better chance of recovering the money if you become a victim of fraud

•            The password you use for your email account, as well as any other accounts you use to purchase tickets, should be different from all your other passwords. Use three random words to create a strong and memorable password, and enable 2-step verification.

•            Be wary of unsolicited emails, texts or adverts offering unbelievably good deals on tickets

•            Check if the vendor is a member of The Society of Ticket Agents and Retailers (Star). If they are, the company has signed up to their strict governing standards.

Claire Webb, Acting Director of Action Fraud, said: “With £9.7 million lost to ticket fraud last year, Action Fraud is urging people who are heading to the top events and those looking for last minute ticket deals this summer to stay vigilant and recognise the signs of ticket fraud.”

If you have been a victim of fraud, report it at www.actionfraud.police.uk, or by calling 0300 123 2040. 

People can report suspicious emails to Action Fraud by forwarding them to report@phishing.gov.uk