England is one step closer to bringing it home! With fans more excited than ever, cybersecurity experts at TrendLife are warning them not to let World Cup fever leave them caught offside by scammers.
As supporters rush to secure seats for one of the world’s biggest sporting events, many will be turning to online marketplaces, resale platforms and social media in search of last-minute tickets.
Scammers know this and are exploiting the excitement with fake ticket listings, impersonated seller accounts and convincing offers designed to look like the real deal. The threat goes beyond fake sellers. Cybercriminals are increasingly creating websites that mimic official FIFA and ticketing platforms, using familiar branding, logos and professional-looking designs to trick fans into handing over payment details or personal information.
The rise of generative AI is making matters worse. Fraudsters can now create realistic fake websites, seller profiles and promotional content faster and at greater scale than ever before, making it increasingly difficult for fans to tell the difference between legitimate offers and sophisticated scams.
TrendLife’s UK research highlights how easily consumers can fall victim to online scams when searching for deals or buying from unfamiliar sellers:
- When the warning comes too late: 22% of scam victims only realised they had been scammed when what they purchased never arrived, while just 18% were alerted by their bank or credit card company
- Scams hiding in plain sight: Email (49%) and social media (25%) are among the most common places where Brits say they encounter suspected scams online
- A willingness to take a chance: 37% of UK consumers admit they would buy from a brand or retailer they’ve never heard of if the price was right, widening the attack surface for scammers
- Low concern levels: Only 8% of UK respondents say they are very concerned about being targeted by online scams, despite the increasing sophistication of cybercriminals
Lynette Owens, VP Consumer Marketing and Education at TrendLife, urges fans to think twice before clicking “buy”:
- Go directly to the official site. Navigate to fifa.com and find the hospitality portal from there. Avoid clicking links in emails, social media posts, or messages, even if they look official
- Check the full URL before entering any information. Look for the complete domain, not just a logo or familiar-looking page. Official FIFA properties are under fifa.com
- Stop if checkout leaves the original site. If the payment step redirects you to a different domain, close the browser tab and do not proceed
- Contact your bank immediately if you entered card details. If you’ve already provided payment information on a site you’re now unsure about, call the number on the back of your card right away. Your bank can block the card and help you take next steps
- Use security tools: TrendLife’s ScamCheck can help you verify whether a link or website is legitimate before you share any personal or payment information
“The World Cup brings together millions of passionate fans, but wherever there’s excitement, urgency and high demand, scammers won’t be far behind,”
“Fraudsters know that supporters are desperate not to miss out and will often use that emotion against them. If a ticket offer looks too good to be true, promises guaranteed access to a sold-out match or pressures you to act immediately, that’s a major red flag.
“AI can help fraudsters create convincing websites, adverts and messages that appear legitimate at first glance. That’s why AI literacy matters. The best way to stay safe is to slow down, stick to official sources and take a few moments to verify before you buy. A little caution now is far better than discovering on match day that your ticket was never real.”
Lynette Owens, VP Consumer Marketing and Education at TrendLife
