London Eye fireworks 2026: Urgent warning about 'ticket screenshot scams' ahead of tonight's event
With huge crowds expected for London’s New Year’s Eve fireworks, travel experts are warning revellers to watch out for last-minute ticket scams.
As London prepares for one of its busiest nights of the year, travel experts at Ski Vertigo are urging anyone heading into the capital for New Year’s Eve to be on high alert for fake ticket scams - particularly “ticket screenshots” circulating online.
With demand for the Mayor of London’s fireworks display far outstripping supply, scammers are once again targeting last-minute buyers.
City Hall has already warned that counterfeit tickets are being sold online at inflated prices, stressing that only tickets purchased through the authorised outlet, Ticketmaster, will be accepted on the night.
Anyone arriving without a valid ticket risks being turned away at the gates.
Transport bosses have echoed the warning. Transport for London (TfL) has made it clear that people should not travel to the fireworks without a ticket, due to crowd controls and extensive restrictions around the Thames.
A Ski Vertigo spokesperson said the same pattern emerges every year.
“We see people travel into London, realise official tickets are sold out, then take a chance on a screenshot sent in a DM or a so-called last-minute bargain,” they said.
“Screenshots and copied QR codes are easy to duplicate. Often the buyer only finds out at the entrance. If you’re travelling to London on New Year’s Eve, only use official routes and plan your journey like it’s a major event — because it is.”
The warning follows problems reported during the 2023 celebrations, when officials said fake tickets contributed to crowding at barriers and delays as people discovered their tickets were not genuine.
How the ‘ticket screenshot’ scam works
Scammers typically send what looks like a legitimate QR code or ticket image and pressure buyers to pay quickly. The same code is often sold to multiple people — meaning only the first person to scan in is successful, while everyone else is rejected at entry.
- Treat any “ticket screenshot” as high risk - if it’s not from the authorised seller, walk away.
- Be wary of urgency tactics such as “I’ve got five other buyers waiting”.
- Never pay by bank transfer for a stranger’s ticket; use protected payment methods only.
- If you don’t have a ticket, make alternative plans - bars, restaurants, organised parties or watching the broadcast - rather than travelling into restricted areas.