Beware of fake match tickets and touts
Liverpool Football Club is urging supporters to watch out for fraudulent tickets and not to buy from unofficial sources in the run-up to the end of the Premier League season.
Fans are advised to take extra care when purchasing tickets and to understand how to identify a forgery.
While some tickets may be genuine, over the course of the season an average of 80 to 100 forged tickets are seized per game, leaving supporters unable to enter the stadium, disappointed and out of pocket.
To guarantee genuine tickets, fans are advised to regularly check the club’s official ticketing website ahead of each game to purchase tickets that are handed back to the club. All remaining home games are already sold out so only return tickets will be available.
Supporters can also protect themselves and avoid purchasing fake tickets by understanding how a genuine ticket can be identified.
Forged tickets can look extremely convincing, but a genuine ticket will always have the following four features.
- Perforation – there will always be a perforated line on the ticket which if torn will separate the ticket into two pieces.
- Liver bird hologram – genuine Liverpool FC Premier League matchday tickets will always include the official silver Liver bird hologram, which sits in the middle of the perforated line in the ticket.
- Embossed Liver bird – each ticket will also feature a Liver bird with ‘YNWA’ across it into the bottom left corner; you should be able to run your finger over the ticket and feel its indentation.
- Serial numbers – on the back of the ticket, there will also be two serial numbers, one on the perforated section and the other on the main ticket. These serial numbers will match.
Any supporters who do choose to purchase tickets from unofficial sources are advised never to hand over personal documents, such as passports or driving licences, in exchange for tickets, Membership or season ticket cards.
Peter Moore, LFC’s chief executive officer, said: “We know tickets are in high demand as we approach the end of the season.
“We continue to work hard to try to eradicate tickets being touted and we want supporters to be aware of fraudulent tickets that are being sold to innocent fans.
“Our message is clear: please don’t buy tickets from unofficial sources.”