With both the AFL and NRL finals in full swing, demand for tickets to the biggest games of the year is sky-high. But while fans scramble to lock in their seats, scammers are circling too. Fake listings, dodgy resellers, and too-good-to-be-true deals are everywhere, leaving unsuspecting supporters out of pocket and locked out of the action. 

What is a ticket scam?

Ticket scams trick people into paying for tickets that either don’t exist or will never arrive. They usually show up outside official sellers, through social media, online marketplaces, or fake resale sites and take advantage of fans who are desperate to secure a seat. 

Common types include: 

• Counterfeit tickets 
  • Scammers post ads on social media or ticket sites, but the tickets you receive are fake, invalid or don’t show up. 

• Overpriced “VIP” Packages 
  • Genuine tickets are marked up and sold as premium deals, dressed up with fake promises of perks or exclusive access. 

• Phishing Scams 
  • Urgent emails or texts push you to click a link and hand over payment details, which go straight to scammers. 

• Impersonation on Social Media 
  • Hackers hijack accounts and message friends or followers, posing as someone they know selling tickets. 

Red flags to watch for

• Sold-out officially, but “tickets available” elsewhere 
  • If the official AFL, NRL or Ticketek sites are sold out, but someone on social media or a random site claim to have plenty of seats, it’s a big red flag. 

• Unsolicited offers on social media 
  • Being contacted out of the blue by someone claiming to have spare tickets is a classic scam move. 

• Too good to be true 
  • Rock-bottom prices, premium seats at half-price, or last-minute “deals” rarely exist in the real world. If it feels off, it usually is. 

• Requests for bank transfers 
  • Scammers often ask you to transfer money directly, leaving you with no buyer protection or way to recover your cash. 

How to safeguard yourself from ticket scams

• Buy from official sources 
  • Stick to recognised ticketing agencies like Ticketek, Ticketmaster or the AFL/NRL’s official partners. 

• Research before you buy  
  • Check the event’s official website for ticketing details, resale policies, and links to approved sellers. 

• Review the seller 
  • If you’re buying through a resale marketplace, look at the seller’s history, reviews and reputation. Be suspicious of new accounts or ones with no track record. 

• Check refund and transfer policies 
  • Make sure the platform offers refunds if the event is cancelled or if the ticket isn’t valid. If there’s no clear refund policy, don’t risk it. 

• Use secure payment methods 
  • Pay by credit card or other protected platforms that let you dispute charges. Never transfer money directly into someone’s account.