Festival Lineup Email Scam UK: Spot a Fake Presale
Fake festival lineup emails are flooding inboxes—but you can spot them if you know what to look for.
What a festival lineup email scam looks like
A festival lineup email scam times a fake announcement or "exclusive presale" message to a real festival's lineup reveal, using a link that either takes payment for tickets that do not exist or harvests your card and login details. An example of the style is: Lineup announced! Get exclusive early-access presale tickets before general sale: festival-presale-tickets.example.
These scams exploit the rush that happens when a popular festival announces headliners and presale demand outstrips supply. This guide shows the warning signs, how to buy safely, and what to do if you have already responded.
Why these scams are convincing
Genuine festival lineup announcements do generate real presale emails and urgency, so a scam timed to the same moment blends in easily. A link that looks like it goes to a well-known ticket platform, combined with a countdown or "limited allocation" message, pushes people to click before checking.
The reliable check is to go to the source yourself: visit the festival's official website or app directly, rather than clicking a link in an email, to find the genuine ticket sale details and authorised sellers.
Signs a festival email is a scam
- It offers "exclusive" or "guaranteed" presale access through a link.
- The link goes to an unfamiliar or lookalike ticketing address, not the festival's own site or a named official partner.
- It creates urgency with a countdown or claims of very limited tickets.
- It asks for card or login details on a page that does not match the official ticket seller.
- It arrived unsolicited, not from a mailing list you knowingly signed up to.
- The email has generic branding or does not match the festival's usual official communications.
How the scam works
First, a real lineup announcement creates genuine excitement and urgency. Second, a scam email or ad times a fake presale offer to the same moment. Third, the link leads to a fake payment or login page. Fourth, criminals capture card details or payment for tickets that never arrive. Fifth, the scam email or account disappears once the real presale or general sale has passed.
Checking directly on the festival's official website for its named, authorised ticket sellers breaks the chain.
How to buy festival tickets safely
Go straight to the source rather than following a link.
- Visit the festival's official website directly to find its named, authorised ticket sellers, such as the venue box office, official promoter or agent, or a well-known ticketing website listed by the festival.
- Do not click a presale link in an unsolicited email; type the festival's address yourself instead.
- Be suspicious of "guaranteed" presale access from a source you cannot verify as official.
- Prefer paying by card through a recognised, authorised ticket seller.
- Check the exact web address before entering any payment details.
If you are unsure, our Concert Ticket Scam UK: Where They Happen and How to Avoid Them, F1 British GP Ticket Scam UK: Spot a Fake Silverstone Seller, and StubHub Ticket Scam UK: Spot a Fake Seller guides cover related ticket-buying scams.
If you clicked the link or shared details
If you entered card details, contact your bank or card issuer immediately using the number on your card, tell them it was a scam, and ask about disputing the payment or a chargeback. If you sent money by UK bank transfer on or after 7 October 2024, mandatory APP fraud reimbursement rules may apply to Faster Payments and CHAPS transfers. The PSR rules include a 13-month claim window, a maximum claim amount of £85,000, possible exclusions, and a possible excess of up to £100. Report it to your bank as soon as possible.
If you entered login details you reuse elsewhere, change those passwords. If you shared personal details, consider Cifas Protective Registration at cifas.org.uk and monitor your credit reports with Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion. Keep the email and any screenshots as evidence.
How to report a festival email scam (UK)
If the scam reached you by email, forward it to the NCSC at report@phishing.gov.uk; if by text, forward it to 7726.
If you lost money or shared card details, report it to Report Fraud at reportfraud.police.uk or on 0300 123 2040 if you are in England, Wales, or Northern Ireland. In Scotland, report to Police Scotland on 101. Keep all your evidence, including the email and any payment confirmation.
Frequently asked questions
Is every festival presale email a scam?
No, but treat any presale link in an unsolicited email with caution. Go to the festival's own official website to find its named, authorised ticket sellers rather than clicking the link.
The email promises 'guaranteed' presale tickets — is that a red flag?
Yes. Genuine presales are limited and not guaranteed to everyone. A message promising guaranteed access through an unfamiliar link is a common scam tactic timed to a real lineup announcement.
How can I check if a festival ticket seller is genuine?
Check the festival's own official website for its named, authorised ticket partners, and only buy through those. Avoid unfamiliar ticketing sites reached through an email link.
I've already paid for tickets that turned out to be fake — can I get my money back?
Possibly. If you paid by card, ask your bank about a chargeback. Eligible UK transfers since 7 October 2024 may fall under APP reimbursement rules, subject to limits and exclusions.
How do I report a festival email scam?
Forward scam emails to report@phishing.gov.uk and scam texts to 7726. If you lost money, report it to Report Fraud in England, Wales, or Northern Ireland, or to Police Scotland on 101 in Scotland.