Thousands of Taylor Swift fans have been scammed out of more than £1million by fraudsters claiming to offer tickets to the star's UK concerts, bank chiefs estimate.
Bosses at Lloyds have revealed that more than 600 of their own customers have been left angry, disappointed and out of pocket.
And they reckon that once other lenders are taken into account, the true number is likely to run to more than 3,000 with losses over £1million.
Lloyds said the average amount lost by each victim was £332, although for some it was more than £1,000.
Its research found that fans aged 25 to 34 were most likely to be targeted, with many scams originating on social media.
Were you tricked by these scammers? Email [email protected]
Thousands of Taylor Swift fans have been scammed out of more than £1million by fraudsters claiming to offer tickets to the star's UK concerts, bank chiefs estimate
Lloyds said the average amount lost by each victim scammed by a Taylor Swift ticket con was £332, although for some it was more than £1,000
Lloyds said it was looking more broadly at concert ticket fraud after fans of artists such as Coldplay, Beyonce and Harry Styles were among those targeted last summer.
READ MORE: The View hosts furiously defend Travis Kelce against seething Taylor Swift fans and slam 'cancel by association culture' - after NFL star faced furious backlash for simply 'liking' photo of Donald TrumpPurchase scams can happen when someone is tricked into sending money via bank transfer to buy goods or services that are fake, shoddy or do not exist.
Ticket scams often involve fake adverts, posts or listings on social media, offering tickets or access to sold-out events.
Victims are asked to pay up front for the tickets, but once this is done, the scammers disappear.
The buyer is left without the tickets and out of pocket.
There are often two waves of fraud – when tickets go on sale and around the time an event takes place – Lloyds said.
Liz Ziegler, the bank's fraud prevention chief, said: 'It's easy to let our emotions get the better of us when we find out our favourite artist is going to be performing live, but it's important not to let those feelings cloud our judgment.'
Lisa Webb, of consumer champions Which?, said: 'Don't be tempted to buy tickets from anyone other than authorised sellers, as your rights can be significantly reduced.
'We recommend you pay using your credit card if the tickets cost more than £100.'
In China, a factory is turning old wedding photographs into fuel
Treaty referendum among issues raised with government at Waitangi
Nine apologises for using digitally altered image of Animal Justice Party MP Georgie Purcell
Queen Letizia of Spain is elegant in an off
US regulator grounds Boeing MAX 9 indefinitely, flights cancelled
Judges sceptical of Trump's immunity claim in election subversion case
Could the genocide case against Israel at the UN's top court have an impact on the war in Gaza?
National reunification unstoppable: Mainland spokesperson
Chlöe Swarbrick announces she will run for Greens co