Cyber Police have issued a formal alert to cricket fans regarding fraudulent ODI ticket scams targeting the India-West Indies match on September 27, 2026, at Greenfield International Stadium in Thiruvananthapuram, which are currently being spread across social media platforms. According to a police statement, scammers gather personal information, including names, addresses, phone numbers, and email addresses, via fraudulent booking forms, then request a small advance payment to secure ticket reservations.
Following the dispatch of fraudulent order confirmation messages, they request extra payments under the guise of GST, refundable fees, verification charges, and processing fees, assuring victims that the money will be refunded, it said. Police said the fraudsters later demanded more money under various excuses, such as “transaction processing” and ” refund pending,” and threatened that the ticket and initial payment would be lost if the victim refused to pay.
The scam operates according to a set pattern. When a fan shows interest in buying tickets via these fake channels, the fraudsters ask for multiple payments under various excuses, such as GST fees, refundable deposits, verification costs, and processing charges. If victims refuse to meet each new demand, they are threatened with losing not only their tickets but also all previous payments, forcing them to send more money.
Police urged individuals not to take cricket or other sports ticket ads on social media at face value, and to confirm ticket availability and booking information exclusively through official channels and event organisers’ official announcements. They warned that people should avoid sending money directly to WhatsApp numbers advertised on social media and must never share OTPs, UPI PINs, bank details, or card information with anyone.
Those who have already been defrauded are encouraged to report the incident immediately to the national cybercrime helpline at 1930 or submit a complaint via https://cybercrime.gov.in, preferably within one hour of the event.
Reporting promptly increases the likelihood of tracking the transaction and reducing additional financial damage. Fans encountering suspicious Instagram pages or WhatsApp numbers selling match tickets are also urged to report those accounts directly to the relevant platforms. This measure helps avoid targeting other supporters in the days left before the September 27 match at Greenfield International Stadium.
