I got an email about renewing my season tickets that asks me to update my card details — is this legitimate?
Be cautious. Season-ticket renewal emails are a known phishing target because they arrive at a predictable time each year and fans expect to enter payment details, making it easy for a fake version to blend in.
Last reviewed: 5 July 2026
Explanation
Scammers time these emails to coincide with the real renewal window, sometimes using leaked or scraped fan databases to make the message look personalized with your name and seat details. The email links to a cloned renewal page that looks identical to the club or venue's real site, capturing card numbers, security codes, and billing addresses when you 'complete' the renewal.
Because the scam relies on timing, checking directly with the official source rather than clicking the email link is the most reliable defense. Genuine ticketing organizations will always let you log into your account directly through their known website or app to renew, rather than relying solely on an email link, and reputable organizations don't typically ask you to re-enter full card details including the security code for a renewal that's processed on file.
If the email address doesn't exactly match the organization's known domain, or if the renewal deadline in the email seems artificially urgent compared to previous years, that's a strong signal to verify independently before clicking anything.
Common red flags
- Renewal link goes to a domain that doesn't exactly match the organization's official website
- Email requests full card number and security code re-entry for an existing account
- Unusual urgency, such as a 24-hour deadline not seen in previous renewal cycles
- Spelling or formatting inconsistent with the organization's normal communications
- Request to pay by an unusual method such as gift cards or a payment app transfer
- Email arrives earlier or later than the organization's typical renewal schedule with no prior announcement
What to do now
- Log into your account directly through the organization's known website rather than clicking the email link
- Compare the sender's email domain carefully against previous, verified renewal emails
- Call the venue or club's official customer service line if anything seems off
- Never re-enter a full card security code for a renewal unless you initiated the process yourself
- Report the phishing email to the organization and to your email provider
- If you already entered card details on a suspicious page, contact your bank immediately
Frequently asked questions
Why do scammers target season ticket holders specifically?
Renewal periods are predictable and fans are conditioned to expect a payment request at that time each year, which lowers their guard compared to an unexpected request.
Is it safe to click a renewal link if the email looks otherwise normal?
It's safer to navigate to the official site directly rather than clicking, since a well-copied phishing email can be visually indistinguishable from a genuine one.