Fans of British music icons Oasis have been scammed out of more than £2million by fraudsters cashing-in on the scramble for tickets for the band’s reunion tour, figures suggest.
Lloyds Bank estimates at least 5,000 people have been conned out of money since the sold-out tour was announced last August. Analysis of scam reports made by its own customers found victims have lost an average of £436 each, around £200 more than the average concert ticket scam. The biggest amount lost in a single since case so far was more than £1,700, it said, suggesting many fans are willing to pay well over face value to see their idols perform live.
Based on its share of banking customers, Lloyds estimates that across the UK there are likely to have been at least 5,000 victims since tickets went on sale, with more than £2million lost to fraudsters. People aged 35 to 44 are the most likely to be scammed, making up nearly a third (30%) of all cases.
Edinburgh, Warrington and Manchester have the highest numbers of victims of scams, with the top 10 locations overall making up a quarter (25%) of cases, Lloyds said. The analysis was based on concert ticket purchase scams reported by Lloyds Banking Group customers, including customers of Lloyds Bank, Halifax and Bank of Scotland, where Oasis was referenced as part of the claim, between August 2024 and March 2025.
In a warning about where many scams are originating, the bank highlighted unofficial groups set up on social media, dedicated to buying and selling tickets for the Oasis tour. Purchase scams happen when someone is tricked into sending money via bank transfer to buy goods or services that do not exist.
Lloyds said ticket scams often involve fake adverts, posts or listings on social media, offering tickets at discounted prices, or access to events that have already sold out at inflated prices. Fraudsters will also exploit fans’ willingness to pay more for scarce tickets by falsely claiming to have them available.
Victims are asked to pay upfront for the tickets and scammers vanish after receiving the money. Scams often happen in two waves – the first when tickets are released for sale, and again as the event date approaches.
Liz Ziegler, fraud prevention director at Lloyds, said: “The Oasis tour is the latest target for ticket scammers, with millions of pounds of fans’ money stolen before the gigs even kick off. The fact that so many cases start with fake listings on social media, often in violation of the platforms’ own rules, underscores the importance of these companies taking stronger action to tackle scams.
“It’s vital that consumers feel empowered to shop safely online. Buying directly from reputable, authorised retailers is the only way to guarantee you’re paying for a genuine ticket. If you’re asked to pay via bank transfer, particularly by a seller you’ve found on social media, that should immediately set alarm bells ringing.”
Lisa Webb, a consumer law expert at Which? said: “Scammers are always looking for new ways to part people from their hard-earned cash and unfortunately, Oasis tickets being in such high demand has created a perfect storm for criminals.” She added: “If you spot any suspicious posts, you can report them to the social media platform and the National Cyber Security Centre to investigate.”
The top 10 hotspots where people are most likely to live who have reported falling victim to Oasis ticket scams, according to Lloyds Banking Group:
1. Edinburgh 2. Warrington 3. Manchester 4. Newcastle upon Tyne 5. Sheffield 6. Glasgow 7. Nottingham 8. Birmingham 9. Plymouth 10. Newport (South Wales)
Tips from Lloyds for buying tickets safely: – Stick to trusted retailers Buy tickets from reputable, official platforms. Be cautious when dealing with third-party sellers. – Take care on social media Fraudsters can easily create fake ads, even using images of real tickets. – Consider whether a “bargain” is too good to be true If a ticket is being sold at an unusually low price or for a sold-out event, this is a red flag. Consider whether the deal seems realistic.
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