Essex Police has reported the highest loss in the region for ticket fraud with residents left more than £20,000 out of pocket due to fraudsters.

This comes after figures from Action Fraud revealed that ticket fraud reports have risen by 67 per cent in the East of England.

The figures show that Essex Police saw the highest number of reports of ticket fraud compared to any other police force in the region – with 609 people reporting being victims.

The breakdown of these stats saw 297 females, 248 males and 64 others report being victims of this criminal action.

Speaking on the findings, Georgina Pellant from Lucia, the group who submitted the FOI to Action Fraud, said: “The findings are really shocking, especially the fact that it’s such a big rise in the East of England.

“It’s really easy to fall victim, all it takes is a small drop in focus, maybe a busy day, or you’re feeling tired, and you can lose a lot of money, no matter how fraud savvy you are.

“The fact that children, under the age of 10, are also falling victim means we don’t just have to be mindful of our own activities, but also our family and even kids.

“I urge people to be careful, always think twice, use trusted sources, never rush, and remember, if something sounds too good to be true, it most often is."

The highest loss reported loss also belonged to Essex Police coming in at a figure of £22,860. Cambridgeshire Constabulary had the second-highest loss (£20,000) and Hertfordshire Constabulary came third reporting a loss of £10,000.

Essex Police have said those looking to buy tickets should exercise caution when purchasing for events which are not on sale yet, or are sold out.

They said those looking to get tickets should check online for reviews of the sellers, and also pay using a credit card, as it offers protection under the Consumer Credit Act if you’re scammed.

They said you should always purchase tickets through the promoter, venue box office, or a reputable ticket exchange site, or an official agent to avoid falling victim to fraud.

Hertfordshire Constabulary reported the second highest number of fraud victims – with the number of reports coming in at 533.

The most common age group who fell victim to this type of fraud were those aged 20 to 29.

You can learn more about ticket fraud and other types of fraud here. The research was carried out by Lucia, you can find them here.