Scammers have targeted Australian football fans ahead of the Matildas’ FIFA Women’s World Cup semifinal against England, according to warnings from the National Anti-Scam Center. With the match at Stadium Australia officially sold out, the ACCC has received reports of scammers attempting to defraud fans looking for tickets. Fraudulent ticket sales and fake links to watch the football matches online have been reported as common tactics used by scammers. The ACCC advised fans to be cautious and buy tickets only through FIFA’s official channels to avoid falling victim to scams.
Catriona Lowe, deputy chair of the ACCC, warned fans to exercise caution when searching for last-minute tickets for popular events like the World Cup finals. She highlighted that scammers were specifically targeting posts on Facebook where individuals were looking for tickets, often using compromised accounts to sell non-existent tickets. Lowe also mentioned instances where scammers claimed there was a problem with payment and requested it to be made again.
The Matildas, Australia’s national women’s football team, are set to take on reigning European champions England in front of an expected capacity crowd of 75,784 people at Stadium Australia. This crowd would equal the attendance of the Matildas’ previous two World Cup matches, making it the largest crowd to ever watch the national women’s team. Given the high demand for second-hand tickets, the ACCC emphasized the importance of purchasing tickets only through FIFA’s authorized channels to avoid falling prey to scams.
The ACCC also highlighted the emergence of a new scam technique involving livestream links. Scammers direct users to websites that prompt them to enter their credit card details to unlock a broadcast of a World Cup match. However, instead of gaining access as promised, scammers steal the credit card information and fail to deliver the content. This serves as a reminder for football fans to remain vigilant and exercise caution when consuming online content related to the World Cup.
The ACCC’s warning comes as anticipation builds for the 2023 Women’s World Cup, which will be jointly hosted by Australia and New Zealand. With the tournament set to feature 32 teams, the Matildas’ success in the current edition serves as an inspiration for young Australian football fans. However, the ACCC’s cautionary advice underscores the need to prioritize safety and avoid falling victim to scams during what should be a celebratory event for women’s football.
In summary, Australian football fans have been urged to be wary of scammers targeting them ahead of the Matildas’ World Cup semifinal. The ACCC has highlighted fraudulent ticket sales and fake online streaming links as common scam tactics. Fans have been advised to only purchase tickets through official channels and to exercise caution when engaging with last-minute ticket sellers. With a record-breaking crowd expected to watch the Matildas take on England, the warnings emphasize the necessity of raising awareness about online scams and protecting fans from falling victim to fraudulent activities.
