Fraud experts issue warning as FIFA tickets go on sale

Monday is the day many soccer fans find out if they’ll get a shot at buying tickets to next summer’s FIFA World Cup games, including the seven matches in Vancouver — but experts say fans should already beware of fraud.

Earlier this month, Visa cardholders were offered entry into a global ‘lottery.’

A randomized draw from the pool of entrants will be held Monday, and winners will be offered a time slot in October to make their purchase online — up to four tickets per match, to a maximum of 10 matches.

FIFA says approximately one million tickets will be initially available for all 104 World Cup matches.

When those tickets start flowing, Jeff Horncastle with the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre expects scammers will get busy with fake resales, and using fake or compromised websites, emails and social media.

Horncastle says buyers should look out for red flags, including unbelievably cheap seats, sellers using pressure tactics, and sellers refusing to meet in person.

He says your best bet will always be buying through official FIFA websites, but there are legitimate resale sites with access to tickets.

“As a fallback option, as much as possible, try to use a credit card if you can. It gives you added protection — added fraud protection — if the ticket turns out to be fake,” Horncastle told 1130 NewsRadio.

Fraud opportunities, he says, surround major events like the World Cup — and it doesn’t end with ticket sales.

“There might be fake jerseys out there being sold on counterfeit websites; There could be rental scams, where fraudsters know that there’s going to be a very high demand for rentals, but low supplies, so they’re going to try to capitalize on anything they can.”

If you come across something you suspect is fraud, Horncastle says, report it to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre.

If you’ve already been made a victim, he says you should also report it to your local police.