Is Liverpool Safe for Tourists in 2026?

Purchasing Liverpool FC and major concert tickets through unofficial secondary market websites, social media groups, and messaging apps is the most documented fraud category in Merseyside, with CPS prosecutions resulting in custodial sentences in December 2025. A gang created over 1,000 fake LFC membership accounts and resold tickets at up to £1,000 each in an operation worth an estimated £500,000–£1 million. Liverpool FC shut down 162 social media groups with over one million combined members involved in fake or inflated-price resales. Visitors travelling from abroad have paid £200–£270 per ticket through WhatsApp and banking apps and been turned away at the turnstiles with invalid tickets.

How to avoid: Only purchase tickets directly from Liverpool FC's official website (liverpoolfc.com) or official club box office for matches at Anfield. For concerts and other events, use the venue's own box office or official ticketing partners. Never pay via bank transfer, PayPal friends-and-family, or cash apps to individuals on social media. Ignore WhatsApp groups and Facebook groups offering tickets.

Where: Fraud occurs entirely online — purchases made via social media groups (Facebook, WhatsApp, X), unofficial secondary ticketing websites, and direct bank transfer to strangers. Victims are turned away at Anfield, the M&S Bank Arena, and other Liverpool venues.

Merseyside Police issued a formal warning in February 2025 after skimming devices were recovered from ATMs across Liverpool and the wider Merseyside area. Devices were found on Allerton Road (January 2025), Liverpool Road in Formby, and in St Helens. Skimmers capture card magnetic-stripe data and are typically paired with a hidden camera to record PIN entries, allowing criminals to clone cards and drain accounts.

How to avoid: Inspect the card slot and keypad before inserting your card — look for anything loose, misaligned, or overlaid on the original hardware. Shield your PIN entry with your other hand. Prefer ATMs attached to bank branches during opening hours. Monitor your bank account immediately after any cash withdrawal.

Where: Allerton Road bank ATMs, Liverpool Road in Formby, and St Helens ATMs. City centre tourist-facing cash machines near Liverpool ONE and Lime Street are also at risk.

Liverpool FC at Anfield and Everton FC at Goodison Park both attract ticket touts on matchdays. Touts sell counterfeit, cancelled, or previously scanned tickets at prices well above face value, targeting visiting fans who could not secure official tickets. The risk is highest for European fixtures and top-of-the-table Premier League matches.

How to avoid: Purchase tickets only through the official Liverpool FC or Everton FC websites or their verified resale platforms. Never buy from touts outside the ground. A ticket that does not scan is non-refundable and the tout will not be traceable.

Where: Anfield Road and the Kop approaches outside Anfield, Goodison Road and the Park End outside Goodison Park, on matchdays

Scammers create fake e-commerce websites that clone Liverpool FC's official store, promoting heavily discounted merchandise through paid Facebook and Instagram ads. Bitdefender Labs identified over 270 Meta-sponsored ads in 2025 alone promoting fraudulent Liverpool-themed offers, using emotionally charged messaging. Fake domains such as Savesalehub.shop and Athleticsavesale.shop collected payment details for merchandise that was never delivered.

How to avoid: Only purchase LFC merchandise through the official store at store.liverpoolfc.com. Be suspicious of any social media ad offering significant discounts (50–80%) on official club goods. Check the domain name before entering payment details — the official store URL does not change.

Where: Fraud occurs entirely online via Meta ads (Facebook and Instagram) linking to fake storefronts. Victims are redirected to cloned Liverpool FC store domains. Physical arrival at the city is not required for victimisation.