FIFA World Cup 2026 Ticket Fraud Surges As Fake Websites And Domains Rise

Published 25 June 2026 · sports

FIFA World Cup 2026 Ticket Fraud Surges As Fake Websites And Domains Rise Published By, Last Updated: June 25, 2026, 15:42 IST Cybersecurity firms warn

FIFA World Cup 2026 Ticket Fraud Surges As Fake Websites And Domains Rise Published By, Last Updated: June 25, 2026, 15:42 IST Cybersecurity firms warn FIFA World Cup fraud is surging, with larger fake ticket purchases, thousands of scam domains and fake sites, and higher risk for traditional card payments (Credit: AP) As excitement surrounding the FIFA World Cup 2026 continues to build, cybersecurity experts are warning that fraudulent activity linked to the tournament is already increasing, posing risks for both supporters and ticket vendors. A new report from ACI Worldwide indicates that many of the warning signs observed before previous major football events have resurfaced ahead of the World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico. The study found that fraudulent purchases are generally much larger than legitimate transactions, making them more difficult for merchants to absorb. During the pre-tournament period, the average fraudulent order was valued at $405, significantly higher than the average legitimate transaction of $270.

Researchers noted that fraudulent transaction values could once again approach the $400 mark during the tournament itself. The findings are based on an examination of 24.5 million transactions processed across 61 live-event merchants serving football fans worldwide. Analysts discovered patterns similar to those seen before spikes in fraud during both Copa America 2024 and the FIFA World Cup in 2022. According to the report, cybercriminals are particularly focused on high-value purchases, and fraud attempts are expected to remain elevated throughout the opening phase of the tournament. The scale of the threat is reflected in recent findings from cybersecurity firms. Silent Push, a US-based threat intelligence company, has identified more than 300 fake ticketing websites designed to closely imitate legitimate platforms. Meanwhile, Check Point Research reported that 9,741 fraudulent World Cup-related internet domains were registered during April 2026 alone, a figure nearly four times higher than the peak recorded around the 2022 tournament.

AI Used For Fraud! Further highlighting the trend, Fortinet detected more than 13,000 tournament-themed domains created between January and May this year. Security experts and law enforcement agencies believe scammers are increasingly relying on automation tools and artificial intelligence to expand the reach of their operations. The report also found that alternative payment methods offer stronger protection against fraud. Attempted fraud rates stood at just 0.57 per cent for these payment options, compared with 3.97 per cent for traditional card transactions. Adoption of alternative payment methods has also increased sharply, rising from 7 per cent of transactions in 2022 to nearly a quarter of all transactions in 2026. Researchers additionally noted that domestically issued payment cards experienced a higher attempted fraud rate than cross-border cards during the build-up to the tournament, suggesting criminals continue to favour locally issued credentials when carrying out fraudulent activity. (With inputs from Agencies) News18 Newsletter Handpicked stories, in your inbox A newsletter with the best of our journalism submit About the Author Ritayan Basu Ritayan Basu, Senior Sub-Editor, Sports at News18.com.