Looking for a World Cup ticket? The buzz around the soccer tournament now under way across North America might inspire a last-minute search online, but fans should be wary of cyber scammers.Experts and authorities warn that criminals will be deploying a range of tactics targeting soccer fans desperate to attend big-name matches at the event, which kicked off June 11. The World Cup runs until July 19, and the most important games are still to come. With FIFA charging record ticket prices, some games are sold out, but plenty more have seats remaining. Here are some pointers on how to avoid getting scammed:
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Take your time to consider what you’re being offeredIf you see a Facebook post offering last-minute tickets to a popular game at a good price, take a beat before handing over your money. Ask yourself if the offer is too good to be true. As with many other types of scams, World Cup fraudsters will try to capitalize on surging demand to pressure people into paying for non-existent tickets. Watch out for classic pressure phrases such as “lots of interest” or “I need to sell right now,” the Britain’s Home Office warned fans last month as part of an ongoing fraud awareness campaign.“Scammers often use urgency to push you into making hasty decisions,” it said.
