Scammers Target Liverpool Fans, Leaving Many Heartbroken and Out of Pocket
A mother and her eight-year-old son were left in tears outside Anfield after being told that the two tickets they bought for the Premier League game against Aston Villa were fake.
A Ticketing Scam
Liz O’Driscoll, who travelled from County Kerry in Ireland with her son Liam, was informed by Liverpool staff that the tickets she purchased through a secondary ticketing site were invalid.
She paid £200 for the tickets, which were sent to her via a WhatsApp message, but when she tried to use them at the turnstiles, the light turned red, indicating that they were fake.
“I’m so cross,” she said, her eyes welling up with tears. “This was Liam’s first time at Anfield and he’s been talking about it for weeks. I feel like I’ve failed him.”
A Growing Problem
The incident is just one of many cases of ticket touting that have been reported at Liverpool’s home games, with fans left out of pocket and heartbroken.
According to Liverpool, the problem is getting worse, with the club seeing a significant increase in the number of fake tickets being sold online and at the stadium.
Stewards and staff at the club have reported a grim succession of similar tales from fans who have been ripped off, with some losing hundreds of pounds.
A Sophisticated Operation
Ticket touting has become a sophisticated operation, with organized crime gangs using burner phones and other tactics to sell fake tickets to desperate fans.
One scheme involves fans being asked to hand over their passport in return for a phone with a ticket on it, while others are more brazen, scanning buyers in at the turnstiles and then selling the same ticket multiple times.
A Response from the Club and Police
Liverpool has taken steps to combat the problem, with the club working closely with Merseyside Police to target touts and bring them to justice.
The club has also set up a team dedicated to tackling ticket touting, which includes data analysts, stewards, and staff who are working to identify and shut down fraudulent activity.
Police are also taking action, with Chief Inspector Chris Barnes warning that ticket touts will not be tolerated and promising to protect genuine fans.
A Flawed System
However, some have criticized the club’s efforts, saying that the system is flawed and that more needs to be done to prevent touting.
One fan, who asked not to be named, said that he had lost hundreds of pounds to ticket touts and was left feeling frustrated and disappointed.
“I don’t know how these people sleep at night, having ripped people off like this,” he said.
Conclusion
Ticket touting is a major problem at Liverpool, with fans left out of pocket and heartbroken. While the club and police are working to combat the issue, more needs to be done to prevent touting and protect genuine fans.
FAQs
Q: What is ticket touting?
A: Ticket touting is the practice of buying and selling tickets for events, such as football matches, at inflated prices, often without the permission of the event organizers.
Q: How common is ticket touting?
A: Ticket touting is a widespread problem, with many fans falling victim to scammers and losing money as a result.
Q: What is being done to combat ticket touting?
A: Liverpool is working with police and other clubs to combat ticket touting, with measures including data analysis, staff training, and targeted operations to shut down fraudulent activity.
Q: How can fans protect themselves from ticket touting?
A: Fans can protect themselves by being cautious when buying tickets online, avoiding unscrupulous sellers, and reporting any suspicious activity to the authorities.