A month before the start of the FIFA World Cup 2026, the rush to get tickets has sparked a parallel phenomenon: the rapid growth of digital fraud related to ticket sales. Specialists warn that the problem lies not only in the number of victims but also in the sophistication of the schemes, which operate under organized structures and with an appearance of legality. Digital fraud evolves with the World Cup. According to León Rangel, CEO of Soccer iD, a platform specializing in sports business, there is not yet an official consolidated figure on losses in Mexico; however, estimates suggest they could reach hundreds of millions of pesos as the tournament progresses. This scenario, he explained, is due to the combination of high demand—with millions of ticket requests in the initial phases—and a market that already has problems with irregular ticket sales for large events. An organized and sophisticated ecosystem. Unlike traditional practices, fraud has migrated to a complex digital environment. Currently, cloned websites that mimic official platforms, search engine campaigns, fake social media profiles, and direct messages simulating legitimate offers are detected. These mechanisms aim to generate user confidence while pressuring them to make payments outside official channels, usually through transfers to personal accounts or hard-to-trace methods. Vulnerable users and regulatory gaps. León Rangel identified high-risk profiles: buyers who react to the pressure of scarcity and users who are unaware of the official ticket sales process. This is compounded by a digital environment where regulation faces limitations, allowing the proliferation of fraudulent content that uses official brands or deceptive promises without immediate control. Prevention, the main tool. In this context, the expert recommends purchasing tickets only through official channels, avoiding unsolicited offers, and carefully verifying websites and payment methods. He also warns that any transaction that involves leaving official channels represents a high risk of fraud. In this context, León Rangel, CEO of Soccer iD, highlights that fraud finds ideal conditions to expand, placing users in a scenario of growing risk as the tournament approaches.
