Drawing on original field testing, Open Source Intelligence (OSINT) investigations, victim and fraudster interviews, and comparative legislative analysis, the study reveals a direct link between resale restrictions and elevated fraud rates. In markets where resale is banned or capped, such as Irish concerts and UK football, fraud thrives, with three in four social media ticket purchases found to be scams. These environments facilitate Authorised Push Payment (APP) fraud, now reimbursable under UK law, shifting the financial burden from individual victims to banks and, ultimately, the wider economy.

First-hand insights from victims and perpetrators demonstrate that price caps not only fail to deter scams, they empower them by lowering consumer suspicion.

Instead of statutory price ceilings, WFF advocates for regulated resale markets with integrated fraud prevention, identity verification, and platform accountability. The paper offers actionable policy recommendations to enhance consumer protection without displacing legitimate demand into criminal hands.