As the World Cup continues, experts and authorities are warning soccer fans to be cautious of scams targeting them. With record ticket prices and high demand, scammers are using various tactics to deceive fans, including offering fake tickets and hospitality packages.

Avoiding Scams

To avoid getting scammed, fans should be wary of offers that seem too good to be true, especially those found on social media. The U.S. Federal Trade Commission warns that fraudsters use social media posts to funnel people to scam websites, where they advertise fake tickets or sell the same seat to many people.

Experts recommend that fans only buy tickets from verified sources, such as the official FIFA website or established third-party sites like StubHub and SeatGeek. Fans should also be cautious of copycat FIFA websites, which can trick people into providing personal details or selling fake tickets or hospitality packages.

Protecting Yourself

The FBI has warned of spoof FIFA websites, listing over three dozen fake sites that appear to be authentic. To protect themselves, fans should type the official FIFA website directly into their browser’s address bar instead of using a search engine. They should also avoid clicking on sponsored search results, which could be paid imitators trying to divert online traffic.

In addition to ticket scams, experts warn that scammers will also try to tap demand by setting up dodgy streaming sites. These sites can harvest viewers’ data, show scam ads, and earn commissions by sending them to gambling or adult content sites.

Original reporting: NBC4 Los Angeles — read the source article.