Swift fans scammed over Wembley accommodation
Taylor Swift fans heading to Wembley Stadium for her Eras Tour have been targeted by suspected scammers on Airbnb, the BBC has discovered.
New profiles were set up on the holiday rental website advertising properties surrounding the stadium that appeared to use AI images or have multiple people advertising the same room.
Some feature stock images used by estate agents to sell homes which have not yet been built.
Airbnb said in a statement: "We have zero tolerance for fake listings and these properties have been removed."
'A prime focus'
The company said people should book, pay and communicate through its website to ensure safeguards and refund policies apply.
Swift is due to play a total of eight nights at Wembley Stadium as part of her record-breaking tour.
The first three are this Friday, Saturday and Sunday. The American superstar will then return to the capital for five more dates in August.
It means London will host more performances of the Eras Tour than any other city in the world, with nearly 700,000 people attending the shows.
According to the Mayor of London's office, tourists attending the London gigs are set to boost the capital’s economy by £300m.
Alice Lester, from Brent Council, described the shows as "a prime focus for fraudulent activity".
"There is such an audience here of people who are desperate to stay in the area or get a ticket for the concert," she said.
The local authority said it would work alongside Airbnb to get false listings removed.
The accommodation scam followed an increase in ticket fraud surrounding the Eras Tour.
One victim, Lee Murray, said he was tricked on Facebook when he tried to buy three tickets for himself and his daughters to see the pop icon at Wembley.
The father-of-six said he believed Swifties were specifically preyed upon.
"There is definitely a target on their heads just because the resale price of tickets," he said.
Mr Murray said the fraudsters told him that there was a problem with his bank. He never received the tickets and lost about £500.
The consumer group Which? advises ticket buyers to stick to official retailers, only enter official competitions, be alert to scammers on social media, avoid offers that seem too good to be true, and not to pay via bank transfer.
'Swiftie Steps'
Across London, special events and celebrations have been organised to mark the music tour.
Sadiq Khan said: "As Taylor prepares for Friday’s opening performance, we are proud to give her and her fans a big London welcome, with celebrations across the capital including a special Tube map, trail and murals in her honour.
"I encourage Swifties to not only enjoy the fantastic shows, but also make the most of everything London has to offer."
Wembley Park is hosting two new Taylor Swift-themed public artworks, including a giant mural on the Spanish Steps, which have been temporarily renamed the Swiftie Steps.
And Transport for London is launching a reimagined Tube map with each line named after a different album and stations named after songs in Friday’s Evening Standard.
Also from Friday, venues across London are taking part in a Taylor Trail with stickers in their windows.
The trail will be available on the Visit London website, alongside a visitor guide to the capital.
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