Liverpool FC takes down 162 social media groups and bans hundreds of people from Anfield
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Investigators from Liverpool Football Club have shut down 162 social media sites made up of more than one million users in a huge crackdown on ticket touting and online ticket scams relating to the club.
The Reds have announced major results from their recent efforts to target the people behind ticketing scams and touting related to Liverpool matches.
Last season the club issued a record 1,114 lifetime bans, with almost half of those imposed following the discovery of mass manipulation of software.
This figure represents a massive increase from just 75 lifetime bans issued in the previous season.
The majority of lifetime bans and indefinite suspensions were handed down for unauthorised selling of season tickets, memberships or hospitality tickets, in breach of the club’s terms and conditions.
The club says this widespread action reflects its zero-tolerance approach to all forms of ticketing touting.
Investigators for the club also shut down 162 social media groups - with a combined membership of more than one million users - that were involved in selling fake tickets that never materialised or reselling real tickets at extortionate rates.
It also took action to shut down 45,000 fake ticketing accounts, and is currently investigating a further 10,000 accounts.
The Reds say this is a significant drop in the almost 100,000 fake accounts that were created and closed in the 2023-24 season, thanks to a number of new preventative measures that have been introduced last season including Multi-Factor Authentication, Single Sign-On and the implementation of more advanced fraud analysis tools.
More resources were also committed to "boots on the ground" across the 2024-25 season, leading to almost 500 people being denied access to Anfield for trying to gain access to the stadium with a burner phone.
Meanwhile just under 400 targeted stops were also carried out on matchdays, preventing access to the turnstiles for accounts with suspicious activity.
Liverpool FC says it will continue to take "robust action" across this season with increased resources targeting those involved in the proliferation of touting activity.
Supporters have been told to be aware that if they are in possession of a ticket that has not been forwarded in line with the club’s terms and conditions, or are present inside Anfield without a valid ticket, they will be ejected by stewards or the police.
The club operates an official sanctions process, where club officials and a member from an independent supporter association hear cases and decide on appropriate course of action, including lifetime bans and indefinite suspensions.
Supporters are also being reminded not to buy tickets from unofficial online channels or from unofficial sellers, as more and more sophisticated and organised ways to defraud or extort fans continue to be discovered.
Upwards of 90% of tickets listed on these unofficial sites either don’t exist or are touted tickets which have been sold multiple times.
As a result, the club has moved to reiterate the places where fans should purchase Anfield tickets from in order to guarantee they are genuine.
All general admission tickets should be purchased from Liverpool FC only.
LFC also sells official hospitality direct to supporters here.
The club’s official match break partners – and their sub-agents, which are listed on their websites where applicable – are the only other places to guarantee the purchase of official LFC hospitality tickets.
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Here is a list of LFC’s official match break partners and the hospitality area they provide official tickets for.
LFC supplies these agents with genuine hospitality tickets, and these packages are sold as match breaks with travel and/or at least one night’s hotel accommodation.
Fans can report unofficial ticket sales or fraudulent tickets to LFC here – and to Action Fraud here.
More information on the LFC official sanctions process is available here.