Scam Tickets Costing Australians $400+ On Average, Says New Research
Image: Jordan Munns / Supplied
New research funded by PayPal Australia has shown that Australian consumers are losing hundreds of dollars when purchasing scam tickets for event or concert tickets online.
The report, which surveyed 1,021 Australians aged 18-75, found that the average amount of money lost on a ticket purchase is $432, with almost half (48%) of those who have been scammed losing funds between $100 and $499. Gen Z and millennial ticket buyers have suffered the hardest, with 15% of this demographic reporting losses of $750 or more.
Additionally, the report found that one in five Australians have missed out on an event due to fake or undelivered scam tickets, and that 8% have been scammed more than once. In fact, 7% of all respondents and 18% of Gen Z admit they would “take the risk” if the price seemed too good to ignore.
However, the report also shows that 69% of Australians are careful to buy their tickets through official channels, and that 52% avoid buying tickets on social media entirely.
PayPal Australia’s Sascha Hess commented on the findings, saying: 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.
“The good news is, there are simple ways to stay protected – using secure payment methods like PayPal which offers Buyer Protection on eligible purchases, means you could be refunded if something goes wrong or no tickets ever arrive.”
The ongoing battle to protect customers from ticket scams
Protection for consumers from ticket scalping and scams have been under the microscope the world over in the past few years, especially as concert tickets continue to reach exorbitantly high prices.
Many companies and artists have attempted to create measures that cut down on the possibility of scalping and scams. Although NSW banned ticket bots back in 2017 and ticket scalping is a criminal offence, it’s been an ongoing battle to keep access to concerts in the hands of fans.
If you’re purchasing tickets for concerts this summer, be sure to purchase from official sellers where possible. If this isn’t an option, practice caution by using trusted payment methods, checking reviews for suspicious sites and keep an eye out for fake listings.
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