New research reveals that Australians lose an average of $432 each time they fall victim to a ticket scam when purchasing event or concert tickets online. The study, conducted by PureProfile for PayPal Australia, also found that nearly one in 10 people have been scammed more than once.
Gen Z and millennials are hit hardest, with losses of $750 or more reported in a single scam. Other Australians typically lose between $100 and $499. The data indicates that scammers exploit the lure of bargains, with 7% of Australians and 18% of Gen Z willing to take a risk if a ticket price seems too good to ignore.
Scammers capitalize on the fear of missing out (FOMO) on major concerts, festivals, and sporting events, rushing fans into making hasty purchases. PayPal Australia's chief information security officer, Sascha Hess, warned: 'Scammers know that when tickets sell out fast, fans can be tempted to take risks. Unfortunately, fake tickets don’t just cost you money, they can rob you of the experience itself.'
Hotspots for scamming include social media platforms, suspicious links, and fake listings. To stay protected, consumers are advised to buy only from official sellers, use trusted payment methods with buyer protection, be wary on social media marketplaces, check reviews and URLs, and report suspicious activity.
