VANCOUVER : Soaring ticket and travel costs for the FIFA World Cup are increasing the risk of cyber fraud and scams targeting fans, according to industry experts.
Nuno Sebastiao, co-founder of Feedzai, warned that expensive tickets are pushing supporters toward suspicious deals, making them easy targets for fraudsters.
“Large gatherings like a World Cup are a scammer’s dream,” Sebastiao said, noting that fans seeking cheaper options are often lured by fake offers.
A report by The Knoble estimates the tournament could generate more than 28,500 suspicious financial transactions globally, with scams centred on ticketing, travel and online fraud.
Experts say many operations are run by sophisticated international criminal networks, sometimes with alleged links to state-backed groups in countries such as Iran and North Korea, as well as networks in Latin America, Africa and Eastern Europe.
Beyond financial fraud, major sporting events are also linked to serious human rights concerns. Sebastiao warned that some scam operations rely on forced labour in large call centres, where victims are exploited to carry out phishing attacks.
Authorities also highlight increased risks of human trafficking around major events. Data from Santa Clara County Human Trafficking Task Force showed that during the Super Bowl earlier this year, 29 traffickers were arrested and 73 victims rescued, including minors.
Similar monitoring and enforcement measures are expected when World Cup matches are held in the San Francisco Bay Area later this year.
