More than half a million people will be fleeced by fraudsters selling fake tickets to high-profile events this summer: here's how to avoid being one of them.
• Always pay by credit card. The Consumer Credit Act allows you to claim back your money from the issuer, as long as the transaction is at least £100. Debit card users are covered by the charge-back rules.
• Be wary if sold-out tickets are on sale.
• Use online consumer forums to research the ticket company and check if it is registered at Companies House at www.companieshouse.gov.uk.
• If you are buying tickets for music festivals such as Reading or Glastonbury, go to the official festival website to find out where tickets are being sold.
• Tickets for the 2012 Olympics can be bought only from the official site at www.tickets.london2012.com. It is illegal to sell on your Olympic ticket once tickets are released, except on the official resale site which is being set up early next year. Champions League tickets should be bought only via www.uefa.com.
• If you want to browse for tickets, use a site registered with the Society of Ticket Agents and Retailers (www.star.org.uk or 0844 879 4272) such as Lastminute.com, Ticketmaster or Lovetheatre. This means you have means of redress if something goes wrong.
• If you buy from a classified website such as Gumtree, you will not get your money back if your tickets are fake or do not turn up. If you buy from eBay using PayPal, you should be protected if you follow PayPal's rules, such as informing PayPal straight away of the problem.