Aussie Swifties lose $135k ahead of Eras Tour shows

What a Cruel Summer it is. The ACCC has reported 270 instances of Aussie Swifties scammed out of Era’s Tour resale tickets. 

After 4 million people across the country fought for tickets last year, global superstar Taylor Swift is set to play two sold-out shows in Sydney and Melbourne later this month. The ACCC’s Scamwatch warns that scams targeting Aussie Swifties who weren't so lucky are only expected to increase in the lead-up to Miss Swift’s concert dates in mid-February. 

“The Eras Tour is the hottest ticket in town this summer and scammers are seizing the opportunity to dupe Australian Swifties looking to buy resale tickets,” The ACCC’s Deputy Chair Catriona Lowe said in a press release.

The scam has been reported 270 times, with 114 times in NSW and 96 times in Victoria. Across the two states, Swifties have lost a total of $135,000 in the hopes they too would get to see the global pop star live. The worst part? This figure is only expected to grow in the coming weeks. 

“This scam is a low act, seeking to take advantage of fans, many of whom are young and are desperately trying to secure a ticket to make their dream of seeing Taylor Swift live come true,” Ms Lowe continued.

The scammers typically hack the social media accounts of real people, and then post in resale groups, events, and pages, saying they can no longer attend and want to sell their tickets. They might even message other Facebook users on the hacked person’s friends list. After the ticket is paid for, the post and the social media account are deleted.

• You receive a message or see a post in a group from someone you think you might know offering The Eras Tour tickets.
• The seller has a story about why they can’t attend the concert and are selling the tickets ‘at cost’.
• They pressure and rush you to buy the tickets and transfer them money once you show interest. They might also refer to the high demand for the tickets. 
• In addition to the high cost of the tickets, they may also ask for extra fees to change the name on the ticket.

While it may be easier to buy from someone in a Facebook group you think you know, it's not always the safest. The safest way to ensure you're not getting scammed is by purchasing your tickets from an authorised ticket seller.

If you are going to take up an offer from someone on social media (which we don’t recommend, and neither does the ACCC), do your research. Contact your friend through a different channel to ensure they haven’t been hacked, and always pay through secure channels like PayPal instead of just handing over your card details. 

If you’ve fallen victim to a scam, contact your bank as soon as possible. Contact the platform you were scammed on then report the scam to the ACCC’s Scamwatch.