Southend United warns against scam ticket sellers

Southend United fans have been warned not to buy tickets for their National League play-off final from individual sellers in case they get scammed.

One seller offered tickets at £120 a pair on X, but made no further contact once money was handed over.

A typical ticket for the match against Oldham at Wembley Stadium on Sunday, bought via the club, has cost £35.

However, tickets have been selling out quickly, and fans and local politicians have been calling for the seat allocations to be increased.

A limit of 17,500 tickets per club were initially imposed due to the closure of Wembley Park station on the day of the fixture for engineering work.

More tickets were eventually made available after extra train services were laid on at nearby stations.

Southend has also been selling additional coach and ticket packages for fans.

BBC journalist Anna Doble, who wanted tickets for her partner who is an avid supporter, lost money after she responded to an X post.

"The one I engaged with was a proper Southend fan who has often tweeted about the club," she explained.

"He sent out several tweets saying 'two tickets to spare for the play-off final'.

"We haggled a price, although he was definitely going for a lot more than face value."

Having settled for £110, reduced from £120, Doble became suspicious and requested details of the seat numbers.

The seller responded with details, and Doble sent them half the fee, offering to send the second half once the tickets were handed over.

"[But] he started to say 'they're actually my dad's tickets - I can't send you them until he's happy and he wants the full amount'."

Doble told the seller they would not get any more money until she got the tickets and, after promising to sort it out, they went silent.

However, the profile remained active on X, still offering pairs of tickets. Fans have been restricted to buying no more than four tickets.

Doble says she finds it difficult to believe that "any Southend fan would be doing over other Southend fans."

A spokesperson for the club said it had received a report of a scam and was looking into it.

The spokesperson advised supporters to buy directly through the club and not through third parties.

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