As excitement surrounding the Indian Premier League (IPL) continues across the country, reports of fake IPL tickets being sold online and outside stadiums have raised concerns among cricket fans. Authorities and cybercrime officials have advised the public to remain cautious and purchase tickets only through official platforms.
According to reports, fraudsters are allegedly using fake ticket booking websites, duplicate QR-coded tickets, counterfeit VIP passes, and misleading social media offers to target fans searching for match tickets. Several fans reportedly discovered the fraud only after reaching stadium entry gates, where their tickets were rejected during verification.
High-demand matches involving popular teams such as Chennai Super Kings, Mumbai Indians, and Royal Challengers Bengaluru are said to be among the most targeted by scammers due to heavy ticket demand.
Cybercrime officials say fraudsters are increasingly using fake Instagram pages, WhatsApp groups, Telegram channels, and fraudulent payment links to deceive cricket fans. In several cases, fake tickets were allegedly sold at prices significantly higher than official rates.
Police and cybercrime departments have advised the public to:
- Purchase tickets only from official IPL ticketing partners
- Avoid cash transactions with unknown sellers
- Verify booking confirmations and QR codes carefully
- Stay cautious of social media resale offers
- Report suspicious websites or accounts immediately
Officials believe such scams can lead to financial losses, crowd management issues, and increased security checks at stadiums. Authorities are also exploring stricter digital verification measures to prevent similar incidents in future sporting events.
The issue has once again highlighted the importance of cyber awareness and careful online transactions during major public events with high ticket demand.
