As the UK gears up for a summer of gigs, festivals and games, more than half of Brits intend to go to at least one big event in the next 12 months, according to research from Nationwide Building Society.
But while some 59 per cent have their heart set on going to gigs, matches and shows, new security measures will be essential in protecting anyone purchasing tickets online – ensuring nobody is left out of pocket and with a severe case of FOMO (Fear of Missing Out). Just under a fifth (18%) of Brits have noticed spending on their current account that wasn’t by them., according to Nationwide’s research.
Strong Customer Authentication (SCA) means that if a person’s bank or building society has their up-to-date contact details and they bank online, the chances of a criminal using someone else’s details to buy anything is much lower.
According to the research1, most people are looking forward to attending events. One in five (20%) want to go to the theatre, 19 per cent want to attend music concerts, 18 per cent want to see live sport, 14 per cent say they want to go to a festival and close to one in ten (9%) comedy gigs.
On average Brits who goes to large events will spend £168.03 attending, including the cost of the ticket (average £64.77) plus additional expenses such as travel, food and accommodation (average £103.26). Brits are intending to go to two big events on average over the next year - one less than before the pandemic - this equates to an average of £336.06. However, the cost could be double for many men, who are almost twice as likely to attend major events as women.
More than three quarters (78%) of consumers who go to large events book their tickets online, with just over a third (37%) of Brits waiting in virtual queues to try and secure tickets to events that will sell out quickly. This means there is a greater need for protections to ensure that payments are as secure as possible, with two thirds (69%) saying they worry about someone stealing their details to shop online.
When booking tickets, 74 per cent usually book for the whole group rather than just themselves – meaning a mistake could prove significantly more costly.
Over half (55%) of Brits would be disappointed if they missed out on tickets to must-see events. Thereafter, people say they would most commonly feel upset (19%), annoyed (19%) and nearly one in 10 (9%) would be angry. In fact, just over a fifth (21%) would get FOMO if a friend got tickets to an event and they didn’t.
Staying safe online – Strong Customer Authentication (SCA)
Strong Customer Authentication requires members to complete an extra step to confirm it’s really them when making certain payments online. It comes as ‘card not present fraud’, where someone uses personal information and details from someone else’s card to shop online or over the phone, remains the most prevalent type.
Nationwide has several ways to protect members from online fraud, including using their Nationwide mobile App to authenticate the transaction, receiving a One Time Passcode (OTP) via text or email, or using their card reader to generate a unique code.
James Smith, Nationwide’s Director of Digital, comments: “As the UK continues to move out of lockdown and with events such as Euro 2020, Wimbledon and Reading Festival on the horizon, the nation is already eager to get back out there and see their favourite, band, team or idol in the flesh.
“That eagerness can bring with it a rush to book tickets, and sometimes at the expense of our own safety and security. These extra measures will ensure that our members remain safe when buying online.
“As a mutual our members remain our number one priority, so these changes to our Secure Customer Authentication methods are designed to protect our members whilst making the transaction as seamless as possible. These events are meant to be a time for joy and excitement, and it is our intention for them to remain that way for our members.”
Teddy Sheringham MBE, Former Professional and International Footballer, said: “Fans are the lifeblood of football, just like they are for festivals, the theatre and comedy gigs…something we have all been desperately missing over this past year. While it is fantastic to see crowds returning for the likes of Euro 2020 in England, the frantic rush to be the first to get tickets has raised the chance of thousands of us experiencing a serious case of FOMO (fear of missing out) if our online information isn't up to date when we reach the front of the queue.
“Nationwide Building Society is helping highlight the different measures we need to consider to make staying safe seamless when shopping online. We as players want you cheering us on, so it's time to think like a footballer and understand how using your head rather than your feet is key to gaining that extra yard, securing your tickets and enjoying everything this summer has in to offer.”
