--- title: 'Weekly Scam Alert: Fake World Cup Tickets Could Cost Soccer Fans Hundreds of Dollars' description: The intense demand for World Cup tickets may drive casual attendees who are unfamiliar with FIFA’s platforms to buy from fraudulent sellers. authors: - name: Gabriel O. Rodriguez Cruz role: Associate Editor url: https://money.com/author/gabriel-rodriguez/ bio: Gabriel Rodríguez is an editor at Money who covers financial technology and digital security. His two main topics of expertise are identity theft protection services and crypto, specifically crypto wallet and crypto exchanges. education: University of Puerto Rico Rio Piedras at_money_since: 2018 articles: 101 covers: - Identity Theft - Banking - Business - Career Advice - Credit - Economy and Politics - Housing - Insurance - Investing - Lifestyle - Mortgages - Personal Finance - Pets - Professional Services - Retirement - Shopping - Taxes - Technology social: - https://www.linkedin.com/in/gabriel-rodriguez-cruz/ editors: - name: Kaitlin Mulhere role: Editor url: https://money.com/author/kaitlin-mulhere/ bio: Kaitlin Mulhere is an editor at Money.com. Since joining in 2015, she’s written and edited about a variety of personal finance topics, including banks, credit, student debt, saving strategies and more. education: University of Florida at_money_since: 2015 articles: 217 covers: - Identity Theft - Banking - Business - Career Advice - Credit - Credit Cards - Debt - Economy and Politics - Education - Health and Wellness - Housing - Insurance - Investing - Lifestyle - Loans - Mortgages - Personal Finance - Retirement - Shopping - Taxes social: - https://twitter.com/KMulhere - https://www.linkedin.com/in/kaitlin-mulhere-64503048/ published: '2026-05-12T14:16:33.000Z' modified: '2026-05-12T14:16:33.000Z' section: Identity Theft word_count: 1162 canonical: https://money.com/scam-alert-fake-world-cup-tickets/ type: Article source: structured-blocks --- > **Disclosure:** We research all brands listed and may earn a fee from our partners. Research and financial considerations may influence how brands are displayed. Not all brands are included. [Learn more](https://money.com/page/disclaimer/). ![Illustration depicting two fish as they avoid being lured by different scams](https://img.money.com/2026/02/Weekly-Scams-Watch-Out_8739ff.jpg) Scammers are exploiting the hype around the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which kicks off next month across the U.S., Canada and Mexico. Consumer protection groups are warning that fake ticket schemes are spreading across resale platforms and look-alike websites designed to mimic official FIFA branding. The scammers' tactics include fake waiting lists and “pre-sale” offers, cloned ticket confirmations and counterfeit QR codes. This mirrors the kinds of fraud already plaguing other major soccer events, most notably the Premier League in Europe. A new analysis from Scotland-based financial services company LLoyds Bank shows a [36% surge in soccer ticket scams](https://www.lloydsbankinggroup.com/media/press-releases/2026/lloyds/world-cup-ticket-scams.html) during the current Premier League season, with victims losing an average of about $293 — and some losing thousands — on fake season tickets or VIP packages. Liz Ziegler, fraud prevention director at Lloyds, says that most of these scams can be traced back social media, where fraudsters move buyers into a messaging app like WhatsApp before pressuring them into irreversible bank transfers. Shortly after, the scammer disappears. The risk is high this year because intense demand for World Cup tickets may drive casual attendees who are unfamiliar with FIFA’s official and secondary markets to purchase overpriced listings or engage with fraudulent sellers, especially for marquee matches like those in New Jersey and Mexico City. To help Americans from falling prey to fraudsters, [the FTC published a short guide](https://consumer.ftc.gov/consumer-alerts/2026/03/how-make-your-world-cup-experience-scam-free) to keep your World Cup experience scam free. The gist of it: Watch for copycat websites and avoid sellers advertising paper tickets or screenshots. ## Other current scams to watch out for ### AI Scam Texts Scam text messages impersonating government agencies are becoming increasingly convincing thanks to artificial intelligence. This has prompted [warnings from agencies like the Oregon Department of Motor Vehicles](https://www.statesmanjournal.com/story/news/local/2026/05/09/oregon-dmv-realistic-ai-scam-texts/90009407007/?gnt-cfr=1&gca-cat=p&gca-uir=true&gca-epti=z114634p000350c000350e004400v114634d--46--b--46--&gca-ft=237&gca-ds=sophi) about fake payment demands tied to tolls, registration fees or license suspensions. Unlike older phishing attempts, which had clearer tells like spelling errors or odd phrasing, AI-generated texts can closely mimic official government language and formatting. This creates additional pressure for recipients to act immediately, clicking on otherwise suspicious links or scanning QR codes that lead to fraudulent websites. Agency officials are reminding consumers that DMVs do not request payments or threaten suspensions by text message. Avoid clicking on links from unsolicited texts and verify any claims directly through legitimate agency websites or phone numbers. ### Card Chip Cuttings A growing banking scam is convincing victims to [destroy their own debit or credit card](https://kutv.com/news/eye-on-your-money/utah-scam-prompts-warning-after-callers-ask-victims-to-cut-up-cards-mail-in-chips) and surrender the embedded chip to fraudsters posing as bank employees. Police in Utah say scammers call claiming your account has been compromised, then instruct you to cut up your cards, preserve the EMV chip and either mail it in or hand it to a courier. The scheme is effective because callers often spoof legitimate bank phone numbers and already possess partial account information, which makes the request seem more credible. Banks and credit unions, including Chase and BECU, stress they will never ask customers to turn over card chips or share PINs and security codes over the phone. Hang up immediately and contact your bank directly if such a request is sent your way. ***Protect your digital life: [See Lifelock's current identity theft plans and get your first year of the standard plan for just $7.99 a month](https://money.com/pr/u43a2b987059?data-trk-company=lifelock-review&data-trk-imp=true&data-trk-pcu-type=direct_link&data-trk-pcu-uuid=u43a2b987059&encoded_id=)*** ## The most common types of scam you should know Scammers are constantly upping their game, coming up with new and exciting ways (for them) of fooling their targets. AI-powered scams are one example of this; the technology is being used to reach a larger number of people with increasingly more convincing schemes But some tricks never run out of style. Most scams fall into a handful of familiar patterns, and many long-standing schemes are still a threat today. They’ve just evolved to better fit today’s digital landscape 1. **Imposter scams****:** Scammers often pose as trusted figures such as government agencies, banks, employers and even friends or family to pressure victims into sending money or sharing personal information 2. **Phishing and spoofing scams****:**
 These scams use emails, texts or phone calls that look like they’re from legitimate organizations. The goal is to trick you into clicking a malicious link, downloading malware or handing over sensitive information 3. **Online shopping scams****:** Fraudsters can create fake online stores or listings with hard-to-find items at unusually low prices. After you pay for an article, what you end up getting might be counterfeit — or it may never arrive in the first place 4. **Investment scams****:** This type of scam often arrives with promises of high returns from crypto, forex or other “exclusive” opportunities. Many involve long-term grooming tactics in which victims are encouraged to invest more over time before losing everything 5. **Romance scams****:** Some scammers try to get into your pocket through the heart. They build a relationship with you on dating apps or social media, then convince you to give up money and assets by fabricating emergencies or investment opportunities ***Plans for everyone: [Check out Aura's identity theft options for you and your family, starting at $9 a month when you pay annually](https://money.com/pr/maded81fb0a0?data-trk-company=aura-identity-theft-protection-review&data-trk-imp=true&data-trk-pcu-type=direct_link&data-trk-pcu-uuid=maded81fb0a0&encoded_id=)*** ## What to do if you’re the target — or victim — of a scam No one is immune to scams or fraud, but a few consistent habits can reduce their danger and the damage they cause For starters, be skeptical of unsolicited messages, *especially* those creating fear or urgency. This might look like [an email from your bank](https://money.com/bank-account-fraud-social-engineering/) threatening to close an account, a text from an online marketplace saying you’ll lose a discount or a call from the IRS claiming they’ll report you to the authorities unless you “act now.” Scammers love to use this sort of language because it puts you on the spot, which they expect will move you to action Always verify any requests from an organization by cross-checking with its official phone numbers, email or website. And don’t click any links, download attachments or respond to messages you suspect may be fraudulent. A legitimate organization will not pressure you for instant action or secrecy Now, if you’ve already sent financial information or money to someone you suspect is a scammer, you’ll need to take a few steps to protect your data and possibly get your money reimbursed. Contact your bank, credit card issuer or payment platform immediately and attempt to stop or reverse the transactions. Make sure to change any relevant passwords and enable multi-factor authentication to safeguard your accounts, too. Reporting a scam might also help protect others. You can [file a report with the Federal Trade Commission](https://reportfraud.ftc.gov) and with local authorities at your nearby police department or sheriff’s office. Identity theft victims should also consider temporarily [freezing their credit](https://money.com/how-to-freeze-your-credit/) Lastly, review your financial statements and [credit reports](https://money.com/how-to-read-your-credit-report) regularly, keep your software updated and limit how much personal information you share online. 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