‘I never thought I’d fall for a scam!’ Oasis fans open up about falling victim to ticket tricksters ahead of comeback tour
On August 31 last year, around 14 million people went online to try and bag some of those coveted Oasis tickets – and yet many were left disappointed.
Initially, frustration came following issues with ticket sites crashing, and then further anger at the so-called “dynamic ticket pricing”, which meant costs skyrocketed. But the biggest problem was yet to come.
According to new data from Lloyds Bank, Oasis fans have now collectively lost more then £2million in ticket scams since they went on sale, with the average loss being £436.
The issue has affected thousands of fans, as con artists target those who are vulnerable or are desperate to get hold of tickets.
Speaking to GB News, one victim to a ticket scam – Maggie McNamee – said she was “embarrassed” that she had been caught out, as she felt she was usually really good at knowing when she was being lied to.
However, she explained that the person whom had tricked her had gotten her to create a Ticketmaster profile, which is a well-known, legitimate site for purchasing concert tickets.
She said: “She sent a screenshot from Ticketmaster telling her she could only send two or more tickets… so I just made both payments… that was £250.
“Then, she just kept stalling on sending the tickets.
“She kept sending screenshots from Ticketmaster, which looking back were fake, but I was so quick to get the tickets because I didn’t want to miss out.”
Maggie, 17, was purchasing the tickets as a surprise for her dad’s 50th birthday, so was horrified when she eventually learned she had been tricked.
Fortunately, she was able to work with her bank to get the money back, but that is not the case for so many people who fall victim to scams.
And so, in response to the thousands of fans who have been tricked when trying to get Oasis tickets in the last year, online safety experts, McAfee have given GB News their top tips for staying safe online.
They say to watch out for:
Heavily discounted tickets – Don’t be fooled by deals that seem too good to be true. If it seems too cheap to be real, it probably is.Sellers appearing in your inbox – Scammers frequently reach out via social media or messaging apps with “hard to find” or “last minute” tickets. Stick to known, secure platforms.Payments with no protection – Be cautious if a seller insists on payment through Venmo, Cash App, or gift cards. These methods offer little recourse if something goes wrong.Lookalike websites – Fake ticket sites can look shockingly real. Always double-check the URL and look for HTTPS encryption.Grammar and spelling errors – Scam posts and messages often contain typos or awkward phrasing – common indicators that something isn’t right.
However, despite all of the issues, millions of Oasis fans will watch the Gallagher brothers perform this summer around the UK – and it’s evident that “Oasis Fever” is starting to take hold of the UK.
Oasis shops have started to open across the UK, selling merchandise to fans ahead of the tour, and across their home town of Manchester, a crop of murals have emerged celebrating the brothers.
Speaking to GB News, a pair of Oasis superfans, Josh and Connor Smith, explained that they had been fans of the band their entire lives, and were ecstatic that – despite initially struggling to get tickets – they were finally going to be able to see them perform live.
Connor, 29, said: “It’s the best feeling ever, we never thought this would happen.
“I thought they were done in 2009, so to be able to actually see them live is going to be incredible.”
Josh, also 29, added: “Nothing will ever top them.
“The best music ever has already been made; and it was by them. No one will ever top that. So, it’s a once in a lifetime really.”
The tour itself now has less than a week to go until its first show, which will take place at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff next Friday.