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Hawkesbury residents heading to New Year’s Eve celebrations, concerts and major sporting events are being warned to stay alert after new research revealed Australians lose an average of $432 each time they fall victim to ticket scams.
New national data released by PayPal Australia shows one in five Australians have missed out on an event after buying fake or undelivered tickets online, with nearly one in ten victims scammed more than once.
With Sydney’s New Year’s Eve celebrations, summer concerts and sporting fixtures driving high demand for tickets, consumer advocates say local residents are increasingly being targeted through social media marketplaces and unofficial resale platforms.
Younger buyers are being hit hardest, with 15 per cent of Gen Z and Millennial scam victims reporting losses of $750 or more. By comparison, no victims aged over 45 reported losses in that range.
Despite growing awareness, many consumers remain exposed. Only six per cent of scam victims avoided financial loss by using a payment method that offered Buyer Protection, leaving most buyers out of pocket and without tickets.
The research also found that fear of missing out continues to fuel risky decisions. Seven per cent of Australians rising to 18 per cent among Gen Z admitted they would “take the risk” if a ticket price seemed too good to pass up.
PayPal Australia Chief Information Security Officer Sascha Hess said scammers thrive during peak event seasons when tickets sell out quickly.
“Fake tickets don’t just cost people money they can rob them of the experience itself,” Mr Hess said.
“The good news is there are simple ways to reduce the risk, including using secure payment methods that offer Buyer Protection if something goes wrong.”
While most Australians now recognise the importance of buying through official ticketing platforms, scam activity remains widespread. Nearly one in five people reported encountering suspicious links or fake listings when searching for tickets online.
Residents across the Hawkesbury are urged to buy tickets only from official sellers where possible, avoid cash or bank transfers, be cautious when purchasing through social media, and report suspicious listings to help prevent others from being scammed.
