It is important to be aware of certain issues before making an online purchase and be confident the site is genuine. Researching the website that you are thinking of purchasing from can help determine how credible a site actually is.

For example it is imperative that every website has a full street address and a UK landline number, so this is definitely worth checking.

If you are still in doubt, don’t be afraid to ask lots of questions before you make your purchase. You could ask:

When will the ticket be dispatched and how will you be notified? You should also find out what the company’s policy on refunds is.

When paying for tickets online, always pay by credit card. Under the Consumer Credit Act, your card issuer is jointly liable for the failure to provide goods or services if the cash price of a single ticket is over £100.

If you believe that you have been a victim of scam you can report the incident to the police and get a crime reference number. For further advice, call Consumer Direct on 08454 04 05 06 or visit their website www.consumerdirect.gov.uk for information about The Just Tick It campaign, which is running as part of Scams Awareness Month.

I purchased some tickets to a music concert from what looked like a very official website and later discovered that I got completely scammed. What do you do if you are worried about buying tickets from bogus websites?