Festivalgoers, gamers and shoppers: the rise in online scammers targeting your hobbies
People aged 18-34 are at the greatest risk of finding themselves on fraudsters’ radars. Here, seven people describe how they fell for different cons – and what they learned about staying safer online
When scammers are choosing their targets, the common perception is that older people are most at risk. Yet the latest research shows that those aged 18-34 are almost three times as likely to report being targeted online as the over-65s, with social media being the biggest source of scams.
More than a third of younger victims, often considered the most tech-savvy, say they felt stupid or naive about falling for a scam, but with scammers using increasingly sophisticated tactics, even confident and experienced digital users can be caught out.
The good news is that consumers don’t have to navigate those risks alone, with secure ways to pay and protections working behind the scenes helping people shop and spend with greater confidence. Chris Dorrington, head of risk, UK & Ireland, at Visa, says: “Scammers are becoming increasingly sophisticated, often targeting people through the activities they enjoy most.
“As fraud tactics continue to evolve, keeping people safe requires a combination of awareness, technology and industry collaboration. Behind the scenes, the payments industry is working together, using advanced technology and shared intelligence to help detect and prevent fraud, so people can shop and pay online with greater confidence.”
We asked a few of the thousands of younger people who have been targeted by online scams to share their stories along with the lessons they took from the experience and practical tips for ways to spend more securely online.
‘I lost £150 trying to treat my wife to concert tickets,’ says Josh, 33
“I’ve been to dozens of concerts, and always bought tickets through a reputable platform – until the time my wife said she was desperate to see a particular artist when the event was only 10 days away.
“I went to an online forum and started a conversation with someone who was selling their tickets. We had a chat about the artist and the area where the performance was happening, and they seemed legitimate. The seller showed me a screenshot of the tickets, told me the price, and I agreed to buy them.
“When the seller said their preferred payment method was one that I knew wasn’t very secure, in terms of buyer protection, I should have stepped away. But I wanted the tickets so much that I didn’t. As soon as I transferred my £150, the seller disappeared, along with my money. I’ve definitely learned my lesson – I won’t let emotion cloud my judgment again and I’d always use a way of paying that gives me some recourse if things go wrong.”
Top tip: always buy tickets through a reputable selling platform, and use a payment method that offers buyer protection for added reassurance if something goes wrong.
‘The deal looked too good to be true … and it was,’ says Stacey, 28
“I saw an ad on a social networking site for discounted bags from a really popular pop-culture brand. The shop was having an ‘end-of-season sale’, so I quickly added four bags to my basket, totalling £80 (the fact that I could buy so many at such a low price should have been my first red flag). After I paid, the website said a confirmation email would be sent shortly. When nothing arrived, I started to be suspicious.
“Too late, I Googled the image on the website’s front page. It pulled up five similar sites that used the exact same photo. I also found a post written by the person pictured in that photo alerting potential buyers to the fact that scammers were using pictures stolen from her.
“I was really annoyed at myself for having fallen for it, so I took screenshots of everything and applied to my bank for a refund – which, luckily, I received.”
Top tip: if you’re shopping somewhere unfamiliar, it’s worth taking a moment to check websites carefully before parting with your cash. Using Google Images can help you identify fake sites that are using ripped-off photos. Remember: if a deal seems too good to be true, it usually is.
‘I tried to buy a gaming account – then the seller disappeared,’ says Dan, 21
“I was scammed out of money playing a video game. I was browsing a marketplace where people can sell their accounts, hoping to buy one that had made more progress than my own. I’d traded with a seller in the past, spending about £40, and it had gone without a hitch. So when I wanted to buy another, more expensive account, from the same seller, I didn’t hesitate.
“This time, the new account cost me £120, but as soon as I sent the money, I was blocked by the seller and banned from the server. I was 18 at the time, and it hurt to lose so much money. After that, I distanced myself from trading markets, because I didn’t want to get burned again.”
Top tip: if you’re using a platform that involves trades, use established marketplaces and protected payment methods wherever possible, particularly for higher-value purchases.
‘My social media “friend” was actually a hacker,’ says Claire, 34
“Last year, my friend’s sister posted on a social media site about selling some tickets to a sold-out gig. I work in the music industry, and everyone was desperately trying to get tickets, so I shared the post. A few people asked me about it, so I messaged my friend’s sister asking if I should get them to text her directly. She shared her phone number, which I passed on.
“One of my friends texted me to check if the offer was legitimate, and I reassured her it was. But after she’d paid about £550, my friend’s sister went quiet. I later found out that the account had been hacked – it wasn’t my friend’s sister at all. I felt awful that my friend had lost money, especially as I work in the industry. It just goes to show that anyone can be scammed.”
Top tip: profiles can be hacked or faked, so if someone you know is selling hard-to-get tickets on social media, confirm the offer with them in person or through another trusted channel before responding to an alluring post.
‘My Christmas gift for my boyfriend turned out to be cheap tat,’ says Abigail, 31
“My boyfriend is a bit of a geek, so I’m often fed adverts for film and gaming merch. I’ve bought it in the past without any problems. Then last Christmas, I saw an advert for a chunky knitted cardigan inspired by the movie The Shining.
“It looked awesome, so I zoomed in on the image to check it was actually knitted, and looked up the material, too. It was acrylic and polyester, but that didn’t ring any alarm bells, because I have some nice knitted cardis made of the same stuff. It was about £35, which seemed like a bargain, but not so cheap as to be suspicious.
“Unfortunately, when the item arrived, it turned out to be a horrible thin, flimsy jacket – the type you’d get from a fancy dress shop – with a knitted pattern printed on to it. I emailed the store, but was told returns had to be at my expense, about £20. I was furious at myself for falling for something like that.”
Top tip: before buying from websites you’ve never seen before, check online reviews and the retailer’s returns and contact information to give yourself extra confidence before buying.
‘I was befriended online – then he stole my money,’ says Jesse, 33
“I met a guy from Leicester through a social platform for gamers, and we were in touch for years. We regularly traded virtual game items – probably about 50 times. I usually spent about $50-$300 (£37-£220) trading in crypto, and never had any problems.
“Then recently, I made a bigger purchase worth $500, and this time, he didn’t deliver the items. I never heard from him again, and he blocked me on Facebook. I know his account wasn’t hacked, because his wallet address was the same as always. I don’t think he had a plan to rip me off from the start – I think perhaps he needed money fast and saw me as an easy target – but I’ll be far less trusting in future.”
Top tip: instead of buying from online friends, purchase in-game items from vouched-for sellers on reputable auction sites.
‘I was a first-time ticket buyer, and so embarrassed to be scammed,’ says Amber, 26
“The first time I ever tried to buy concert tickets, I got scammed.
“Someone on a popular social media platform said they were selling tickets to a sold-out singer-songwriter’s gig that I really wanted to go to. She sent me her phone number, and shared the ticket information, and I sent half of the ticket price (£110) to start the transaction.
“She agreed to a video call so I could see her processing the transfer of her tickets, and during it she showed me a page from a reputable ticket company, where the tickets were listed, and which displayed an authorisation code for the transfer.
“I watched her adding my information, and it all went through. The site said I’d receive a confirmation email, but what arrived came from a Gmail address.
“I asked for my money back, and the seller led me on for a while before blocking me. Because I hadn’t used a secure payment method, I lost my money. I felt so embarrassed to have fallen for a scam.”
Top tip: whenever you’re buying tickets online, use reputable platforms and a payment method that helps offer protection. And remember that increasingly sophisticated scams can catch anyone out – being targeted is nothing to be embarrassed about.
Find out more about the ways Visa can help protect you from ticket fraud