As ticket and transport costs for this year’s World Cup reach unprecedented highs, industry experts are warning fans of an increased risk of cyber fraud and scams. Nuno Sebastiao, CEO and co-founder of fraud prevention firm Feedzai, told Reuters that major sporting events like the World Cup are prime targets for scam artists, especially when steep prices drive supporters to seek bargain deals from unofficial sources.
“The cost of these events is fairly high, and people are always trying to get a good deal somehow. That’s what these criminals prey on,” Sebastiao explained. He noted that football fans, who are often not in the highest income brackets, may be particularly vulnerable as they try to secure affordable tickets for the games.
A recent report from The Knoble, a nonprofit focused on tackling financial crime, predicts that the World Cup will generate more than 28,500 suspicious financial transactions globally. The most prevalent fraud risks are expected around ticketing, travel, and online scams, often orchestrated by sophisticated criminal networks that sometimes operate beyond the reach of international law enforcement.
Sebastiao cautioned that many such operations are based in countries with limited legal recourse, including Iran and North Korea, as well as parts of Latin America, Africa, and Eastern Europe. These networks may also exploit workers through forced labor in large-scale scam call centers and are linked to broader human rights abuses, including human trafficking and sexual exploitation around major event venues.
Real-world examples underscore the risk: When the Super Bowl was held in Santa Clara County earlier this year, local authorities recovered 73 sex trafficking victims and arrested 29 traffickers. Similar operations are planned for the San Francisco Bay Area, which will host six World Cup matches this summer.
FIFA has not yet responded to questions about its advice for fans or any special anti-fraud measures for the tournament.
Sebastiao urges fans to exercise caution, purchase tickets only through official channels, and remain vigilant for offers that seem too good to be true, as the stakes—and the risks—are higher than ever at this year’s World Cup.
