The Indian Premier League (IPL) isn’t just cricket; it’s an emotion. The electrifying chants, the sea of yellow and red jerseys, the thrill of watching your team battle it out live, it’s an experience every fan dreams of.
But what if that dream becomes a nightmare before you even enter the stadium?
One such IPL ticket scam happened with a Bengaluru woman, Neha (name changed), a die-hard RCB supporter who planned the ultimate trip to Chennai for the RCB vs. CSK showdown, only to realize she had been scammed.
How She Was Scammed?
“You sure these tickets will work?” Neha asked the seller on Facebook who claimed to have 7 tickets for the next RCB vs CSK match going to be held in Chennai.
“Yes, 100% confirmed. I volunteer at Wankhede. Got premium stand tickets,” the seller assured.
Neha, a die-hard RCB fan from Bengaluru, wasn’t going to miss this. RCB vs. CSK at the iconic Chepauk Stadium?
She and her friends had been planning this trip for weeks.
She double-checked the seller’s profile on Facebook. It looked solid—profile picture, mutual cricket groups, even a few old posts about IPL. Seemed real enough.
The seller created a sense of urgency, claiming that only a few tickets were left and urging her to pay a 10% advance to secure them.
“Send me your UPI ID,” she typed. Within minutes, she transferred ₹3,500 as an advance. The seller sent confirmation messages, making everything seem legitimate.
Soon after, he started pushing for full payment, insisting that the tickets would sell out. But Neha stood her ground, she would only pay the remaining amount in person on match day.
The Stadium Gates That Never Opened
With their jerseys on and faces painted, Neha and her friends arrived at Chepauk buzzing with excitement. The stadium gates loomed large, welcoming thousands of fans.
Neha and her friends eagerly waited near the stadium gate, scanning the crowd for the seller.
He had promised to meet them there with the physical tickets. But as minutes turned into an hour, reality hit, he was never coming.
Her heart sank with the reality of being scammed.
Neha frantically dialed the seller. Switched off. Tried WhatsApp. The double ticks refused to turn blue.
Just like that, ₹3,500 and their IPL dream vanished into thin air.
Not Just One Victim
Neha’s story isn’t unique.
Across cities, cricket lovers have fallen into the same trap.
In Bengaluru, a fan named Samarth (name changed) came across an Instagram page: ipl_2024_tickets__24. The seller provided an Aadhaar card, offered discounts for bulk bookings, and seemed incredibly professional.
Samarth, excited, transferred ₹3 lakh for three premium tickets.
The seller even sent him a ticket confirmation screenshot. It looked legit. But on match day? Silence. Calls ignored. The Instagram page? Deleted.
In Kolkata, a woman lost ₹12,000 to another fake page promising exclusive access to KKR’s home matches.
The pattern was the same: quick transactions, fake confirmations, and then complete disappearance.
How These Scammers Operate
- Fake Social Media Profiles: They create accounts with pictures of stadiums, IPL logos, and even fake testimonials.
- Convincing Conversations: They share scanned copies of real tickets or government IDs to gain trust.
- Quick Transactions: They rush buyers, saying, “Only a few left! Send the payment fast.”
- Ghosting: Once money is received, they vanish: numbers switch off, accounts disappear.
How to Protect Yourself from IPL Ticket Scam
- Only buy from official sources like BookMyShow, Paytm Insider, or the IPL’s official website.
- Verify sellers through multiple platforms, a quick Google search can reveal past scams.
- Never transfer large sums upfront without proper confirmation.
- Cross-check ticket barcodes through official stadium counters before making payments.
- In case, you find anything suspicious, report it immediately. Register with us, and our team will assist you in recovering of losses.
The Aftermath
Neha and her friends walked away from Chepauk that day, not with the cheers of a stadium in their ears, but the heavy silence of being duped.
“Next time, official tickets only,” she muttered as they hailed a cab.
IPL ticket scams thrive because they prey on excitement. The urgency, the FOMO, the desire to be part of something grand. But a little caution, a few extra checks, and the willingness to say ‘no’ to too-good-to-be-true deals can keep you from becoming the next victim.
So, as the next IPL season approaches, buy your tickets wisely. Because sometimes, the only thing worse than watching from home is paying to be left outside the gates.
