World Cup Crypto Scams Are Targeting Soccer Fans, Law Enforcement Warns
Law enforcement is warning soccer fans to avoid World Cup ticket and promo offers that request cryptocurrency or other hard-to-reverse payments. Scammers are using fake FIFA ticket sales, hospitality packages, merchandise, streaming, betting, and crypto giveaways to steal money and personal data. Fraudsters are also building lookalike FIFA websites and social ads, with AI making phishing pages and brand clones easier to create. Fans should go directly to FIFA’s official website, not trust sponsored ads, social-media links, texts, Telegram/WhatsApp messages, or deals that seem unusually cheap or urgent. Victims should contact police, notify their bank, save transaction records, and report to the FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center. Recent alerts also flagged typo-squatting sites and fake “World Cup token” crypto projects that are not connected to FIFA and could empty wallets or leave buyers with worthless assets.
