Fake IPL ticket links trap fans; police issue warning
Bengaluru: A cyber fraud case has been registered after several people were allegedly cheated through a fake website claiming to sell IPL tickets for matches scheduled in the city.
Fraudsters target high demand for RCB matches
According to Electronic City Division DCP M Narayana, the scam involved the creation of a deceptive website designed to closely resemble the official ticketing platform of Royal Challengers Bengaluru.
The fraudulent site appeared during a period of high demand for tickets, particularly ahead of key fixtures such as the April 5 match against Chennai Super Kings.
“In Bengaluru, RCB has matches scheduled on April 5, 15, 18, and 24. At a time of heavy ticket demand, a fake website was created. Once money was collected from users, the link was immediately disabled,” the officer said.
How the scam worked
Police explained that the fake website displayed convincing details, including phrases such as “M Chinnaswamy Stadium Bengaluru, Royal Challengers Bengaluru, IPL 2026 tickets on sale,” to lure potential buyers.
Unsuspecting users searching for tickets online were redirected to payment gateways, where they selected seats and completed transactions. However, once the payment was made, the website link became inactive, leaving victims without tickets or recourse.
Complaints filed, case registered
So far, three victims have lodged complaints at Hulimavu Police Station. Acting swiftly, authorities registered a cyber fraud case and initiated an investigation.
Officials have also taken steps to block the accounts involved in the scam and have approached social media platforms to remove misleading content.
Transactions worth crores suspected
DCP Narayana noted that there is often a delay between identifying such fraudulent links and getting them taken down.
He added that preliminary findings suggest that transactions amounting to crores of rupees may have been carried out through the accounts linked to the scam.
The three complainants reported losses of Rs 7,196, Rs 11,991, and Rs 7,497 respectively. Authorities believe the overall amount involved could be significantly higher once full account details are examined.
Police issue public advisory
Issuing a warning to the public, Narayana clarified that tickets for the upcoming matches are already sold out on the official website.
He pointed out that tickets are not being sold through any other links and cautioned that all such external websites are fraudulent.
The police have urged people to verify information only through the official RCB platform and avoid clicking on links advertising “bumper ticket sales” or similar offers.
“We request the public to stay away from all fake links and websites,” he said.
PTI inputs