Coldplay fans are being warned over potential scams(Image: Kevin Mazur/AMA2015/WireImage)

Coldplay scam warning issued after band set ticket prices at £20

Coldplay fans have been issued a warning over hotel scams, after the band announces £20 tickets for their UK tour

by · The Mirror

Coldplay fans should be careful when booking a hotel for the UK band's UK tour, warns one expert.

Following Coldplay's announcement of six Wembley dates for their 2025 tour with tickets as low as £20, fans are turning to Google to plan their trips, with many planning to book accommodation the night of the concert.

Tech experts have warned that scammers could take advantage of fans need for a place to stay, with fake reviews, and even fake hotels potentially popping up.

Marc Porcar, CEO of QR Code Generator, warns: "As interest in hotels near the venue rises, people may seek alternative accommodations, creating opportunities for cybercriminals to exploit.

"The reality is that many of us assume accommodation listings are authentic when they appear on sites that we’re familiar with, and then place a booking without doing our due diligence and checking for warning signs. This is especially true if the property is listed as having limited availability or if there’s a short-term discount."

Scammers may target those looking for accommodation( Image: Getty Images)

Warning signs to look out for, according to Marc:

  • Fake listings - Scammers have been known create fake accommodation listings to trick people into paying for non-existent properties
  • Phishing scams - Fraudulent emails or messages can mimic legitimate booking sites to steal personal or financial information
  • Fake reviews - Fraudulent reviews are created to inflate the online reputation of fake properties. Some are even written to damage the reputation of legitimate properties.
  • Payment fraud - Scammers tend to request payment through insecure methods, rather than through legitimate booking platforms.
  • Bait-and-Switch - After booking, the scammer provides a different, often inferior, property than what was advertised

Marc continued: "To avoid being scammed via fake listings, make sure you verify the accommodation you’re looking at by checking reviews and ratings. Even go so far as to look the property up on Google Maps, as we’ve seen instances of the listed property not existing at all. Remember if things seem too good to be true, they likely are.

"To protect yourself from phishing scams, hover over links to check the actual URL before clicking. Be cautious of URLs that are misspelled or closely mimic legitimate sites.

"Secondly, avoid clicking on suspicious links or downloading attachments from unknown or unexpected sources. Instead, go directly to websites by typing the URL into your browser."

Marc further advised people looking for accommodation to be sceptical of unsolicited emails, including any asking for personal or financial information.

Be wary of payment methods when booking a hotel( Image: Getty Images)

To avoid falling victim to fake scams, Marc suggested priotising verified reviews from buyers or guests, with many platforms labelling these if the customer booked through them.

“Additionally, examine reviewer profiles for authenticity; profiles with limited activity or generic names could be fake. When making a booking, use secure payment methods such as credit cards or reputable payment platforms," suggests Marc.

"Also, verify that the payment site is secure by checking for 'https' in the URL and a padlock icon in the address bar. Verify details to ensure the property or service matches the description and images provided. If possible, contact the company directly to confirm the details.

"Additionally, compare the deal you’re offered with similar listings to spot any discrepancies or unusually low prices that might indicate a bait-and-switch scam."