West Mercia Police - Economic Crime Unit - Weekly Fraud Update - 14/04/2026

West Mercia Police - Economic Crime Unit - Weekly Fraud Update - 14/04/2026

TICKET FRAUD

Criminals set up fake websites or social media profiles to sell tickets for major events (such as sports, music, outdoor concerts or theatre) that are either fraudulent or don’t exist. Websites may even look like the genuine organisations but subtle changes in the URL can indicate that it’s fraudulent. Criminals might have used images of genuine tickets to commit fraud. They can create fake posts or pages on social media to scam those looking for tickets, and may get in touch via text, email, DM or message to advertise fake tickets.

You may be sent or given tickets only to be told they are fake when you arrive at the venue.

It is always safest to book tickets through official sellers that are members of the self-regulatory body the Society of Ticket Agents and Retailers (STAR).

How to protect yourself:

Always stick to official sellers or official resellers when you’re buying tickets online – this is the safest way to protect yourself from ticket scams.

Double check the web address and look for any small changes – also look for the padlock symbol and ‘https’ (the ‘s’ stands for secure).

Be wary of offers for tickets that you see on social media or email.

Avoid paying by bank transfer – always use secure payment methods recommended by reputable online retailers such as Credit Cards.

Research the company and read reviews before you part with your money or information.

If you’re told that a customer representative will be arranged to meet outside the venue, this is likely a scam.

Remember, if it seems ‘too good to be true’ it probably is.

INVESTMENT FRAUD

Investment fraud is when a criminal creates fake investment opportunity to convince you to put your money into investments that don’t exist. You could be contacted by phone, email, social media message or WhatsApp. You might also see adverts on search engines and social media.

For investment scams, criminals might:

Set up cloned websites pretending to be legitimate investment firms.

Send you paperwork with official branding to add a layer of credibility to their scams.

Send you initial payments to show “returns” on your investment, to convince you to invest larger sums of money.

Use fake celebrity endorsements or fake testimonies from people who have allegedly received large profits.

Provide you with details of your own previous or current investments to seem legitimate – they can spend hours researching you for a scam.

Claim to be financial advisers and ask you to download screen-sharing software so they can make investments on your behalf – by downloading the software they gain access to your financial information.

Fake investment opportunities might include: shares and funds, cryptocurrencies, gold, property, carbon, or high-end goods such as wine or art.

Protect yourself from investment fraud:

Avoid clicking on ads within your social media feeds

Be cautious of celebrity endorsed investment ads or those offering very high returns on investments.

If you’re contacted out of the blue by phone, email or social media about an investment opportunity, do your research on the company first before you part with any personal or financial information.

If you’re offered a high return on your investment with apparently little or no risk and is also exclusive to you, this is a huge red flag.

For some types of investment, criminals may pressure you into making a decision with no time for consideration. Only criminals will try to rush or panic you. You can say no and take your time to work out if it’s legitimate or not.

SOURCE: TAKEFIVE

Please feel free to share these messages with any vulnerable friends, relatives, or neighbours

If you have fallen for a fraud,

Report it to Report Fraud (formerly known as ACTION FRAUD) on 0300 123 2040 or via reportfraud.police.uk

Scam Text messages can be forwarded to 7726 to help phone providers take prompt action and block numbers that generate spam on their networks. You can also report Scam mobile calls by texting 7726 with the word “Call” followed by the fraudulent caller’s phone number.

Forward Fake Emails received to report@phishing.gov.uk

If you think your bank account or personal banking details have been used fraudulently, then use the short phone number - 159 - to contact the Fraud Prevention Department of most major UK banks.

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Message Sent By
Michael Barbour
(Police, PSV, Economic Crime Unit – Fraud Protect’)