Question 1

What is the "Fake Event and Ticket Fraud" scam in Glasgow?

Accepted Answer

Scotland has seen a sharp rise in fraudulent event listings and fake ticket sales targeting tourists and locals alike. The most high-profile Glasgow case involved a Willy Wonka-themed "Chocolate Experience" in 2024 that went viral after ticketholders arrived to find a sparsely decorated warehouse with none of the advertised attractions. More broadly, Police Scotland recorded 422 ticket fraud reports in 2024, with losses running into thousands of pounds per victim, many tied to high-demand events including concerts and major sporting fixtures at Hampden Park and the SEC. Most scams originate on Facebook Marketplace or direct message on social platforms. Buy tickets only from official venue box offices or authorised resellers such as Ticketmaster and See Tickets. Never pay by bank transfer for tickets — use a credit card which provides purchase protection. If an event listing has no verifiable website, no official social media presence, or asks for payment via PayPal Friends and Family, treat it as fraudulent.

Question 2

What is the "Parking Fine Smishing Text Scam" scam in Glasgow?

Accepted Answer

Fraudsters send fake SMS messages claiming to be from Glasgow City Council or the DVSA, stating that the recipient owes an outstanding parking fine and must pay immediately via an embedded link. The tactic surged in June 2025 during a cyber attack on Glasgow City Council, when opportunistic criminals exploited the disruption to normal council services. Clicking the link leads to a phishing page designed to harvest card or banking details. Glasgow City Council does not use text messages to chase parking fine payments — all genuine enforcement notices arrive by post. Do not click any link in a text message claiming to be about a parking fine. Genuine Glasgow City Council penalty notices arrive only by post. If in doubt, go directly to the Glasgow City Council website by typing the URL yourself and never follow links in unsolicited texts. Report suspicious texts to 7726 (SPAM) and to Action Fraud.

Online Scams in Glasgow

Fake Event and Ticket Fraud

Parking Fine Smishing Text Scam

Experienced a scam here?