This week, Lee Waldron was jailed after scamming football fans with fake Champions League tickets, defrauding 20 victims out of thousands of pounds. The 41-year-old received nearly £40,000 for counterfeit PDF tickets. His arrest follows an investigation into reports of fraudulent ticket sales for the 2022 Champions League final between Liverpool FC and Real Madrid.
In March 2024, Waldron’s associate, David Windsor, also pled guilty to fraud and was sentenced to 21 months in prison. Their fraudulent scheme was uncovered after victims reported being sold fake tickets through Action Fraud. Waldron, from Kirkby, was convicted at Liverpool Crown Court on January 13, 2025, for acquiring and using criminal property.
Another fraudster, John Gill, targeted fans hoping to attend Jürgen Klopp’s final match at Anfield in May 2024. The 50-year-old sold counterfeit tickets to two individuals outside the stadium and was sentenced to 17 weeks in prison after pleading guilty to fraud.
John Stuart, another scammer, swindled three men trying to buy tickets for the 2022 Champions League final. The 42-year-old stole thousands of pounds by pretending to sell “category one” tickets. Stuart was sentenced to eight months in jail in August 2024 after admitting to his fraudulent actions.
These cases highlight a worrying increase in ticket scams, leaving many fans devastated by the loss of money and the dream of attending key football matches.