Everton has issued a warning to fans looking to buy tickets
Everton fans have been warned of ticketing scams
Everton fans have been warned of ticketing scams(Image: Offside via Getty Images)
View Image
An investigation has been launched into the false reselling of tickets linked to an Everton season ticket on Facebook as the club issues a stark warning to fans. Just days after the Premier League season got underway, with the Blues picking up three points with a 2-0 win against Crystal Palace, fans are being left empty handed after believing they were buying tickets on social media.
Merseyside Police has since launched an investigation, telling the ECHO the force received a report that several Everton fans had bought match tickets linked to season ticket accounts from a third party through Facebook but they never received them.
The force said it is in the early stages of its investigation but officers are working with the club to identify and "take action" against ticket touts selling items both online and in person.
Off the back of the investigation, the club released information on its continued crackdown on ticket reselling. The club said it works with Ticketmaster to monitor activity on its site to identify suspicious patterns and stengthen club security surrounding ticketing.
Writing on its website, a spokesperson for Everton FC said: "These measures are designed to protect genuine supporters; ensure tickets are distributed as fairly as possible and prevent individuals from profiting from the unauthorised resale of Everton tickets.
"For the avoidance of doubt, tickets must not be sold through unauthorised websites, social media accounts, ticket touts or any other unofficial source.
"Any Season Ticket Member, Premium Member, Forever Blue Member or other ticket holder found to have supplied tickets to an unauthorised reseller or tour risks significant sanctions, including the cancellation of tickets and Memberships and a lengthy ban from Hill Dickinson Stadium.
"The resale of football tickets through unauthorised channels is also prohibited by law and is a breach of Everton’s ticketing terms and conditions.
"With demand continuing to exceed the number of tickets available for many Premier League fixtures, the Club is particularly conscious of the impact touting has on Evertonians legitimately attempting to secure tickets."
The club has encouraged people to use official ticket options, with season ticket holders told to use the club's official ticket resale platform. Season ticket members can also transfer their tickets through the club digitally.
Describing what a ticket tout is, the club said: "A ticket tout is an individual or organisation selling tickets without authorisation, often at significantly inflated prices. Supporters should only purchase tickets through official Everton ticketing channels or authorised Club partners.
"Tickets purchased from an unauthorised source - whether online, through social media or in person - may be invalid. Supporters risk being refused entry to Hill Dickinson Stadium as well as losing the money they have paid. Away supporters who purchase tickets in designated home areas also risk being refused entry or removed from the stadium.
"The Club maintains information on known unauthorised ticket websites to help supporters identify potential risks when purchasing tickets."
The warning signs posted by Everton are:
Tickets that were fake and did not provide stadium access
Genuine-looking tickets where the access credentials had already been cancelled or used
Sellers disappearing after receiving payment
Supporters paying significantly above the official ticket price
Tickets never being delivered
Bank details or other personal information being compromised
Tickets being supplied for a different fixture or stadium area than advertised
The same ticket being sold or transferred to multiple people
Tickets that had originally been stolen or obtained fraudulently
Supporters becoming involved in subsequent criminal investigations
Screenshots being supplied instead of a valid digital ticket
A single Family Area ticket being misrepresented as covering an entire family
General Admission tickets being advertised and sold as Premium experiences
Dave Lewis, Head of Security and Stadium Safety Officer at Everton Football Club, said: “We welcome the continued support of Merseyside Police in reinforcing the message around the risks of unauthorised ticket resale and touting.
“Ticket touting is not a victimless activity. We have seen cases where supporters have paid significantly inflated prices, been sold invalid tickets or, in some instances, where the same seat has been sold to multiple people. That can leave genuine Evertonians out of pocket and unable to attend the match they believed they had paid for.
“Our position is clear – the Club has a zero-tolerance approach to unauthorised ticket resale. Anyone found to be supplying tickets to touts or selling through unofficial channels risks having their tickets or Membership cancelled and being banned from Hill Dickinson Stadium.
“We continue to work closely with Merseyside Police and our ticketing partners to share information, identify suspicious activity and protect supporters wherever possible.
“We would strongly instruct Evertonians to only buy tickets through the Club’s official channels or authorised partners and, if they are unable to attend fixtures, to use the official resale or ticket transfer options available to them.
“Supporters can also play an important role by reporting any suspected touting or unauthorised ticketing activity to the Club.”