World Cup Ticketing Fraud Rises as Fake Websites Target Fans
New Delhi — Ticketing fraud linked to the 2026 FIFA World Cup is increasing as criminals create fake websites and target fans making high-value purchases, according to a new report.
ACI Worldwide said fraudulent orders averaged $405 during the buildup to the tournament, about 1.5 times the $270 average for legitimate purchases. The average value of all transactions rose 1.2%.
The payments technology company said fraudulent transaction values could again approach $400 during the tournament.
Its findings were based on an analysis of 24.5 million transactions across 61 live-event merchants serving fans worldwide. The company said warning signs that preceded fraud increases during the 2022 World Cup and the 2024 Copa America have returned.
Fraudsters are primarily targeting higher-value purchases, and fraud attempts are expected to remain elevated through the opening stages of the tournament in the United States, Canada and Mexico, the report said.
Silent Push, a U.S.-based threat intelligence company, has identified more than 300 websites designed as nearly identical copies of legitimate ticketing platforms.
Check Point Research recorded 9,741 fraudulent World Cup-related domains registered in April 2026, nearly four times the peak recorded around the 2022 tournament.
Fortinet identified more than 13,000 tournament-themed domains registered between January and May 2026.
Cybersecurity companies and law enforcement agencies have warned that criminals are using automation and artificial intelligence to expand the scale and reach of World Cup-related scams.
Alternative payment methods recorded an attempted fraud rate of 0.57%, compared with 3.97% for traditional payment cards, according to ACI Worldwide.
The use of alternative payment methods increased from 7% of transactions in 2022 to 24.8% so far in 2026.
Domestically issued cards recorded a 3.2% attempted fraud rate during the buildup to the tournament, compared with 1.4% for cross-border cards, indicating that criminals favored locally issued payment credentials. (Source: IANS)
