Brits are being warned they could be left hundreds of pounds out of pocket this summer.

Victims lost an average of £215 to football ticketing scams during the current Premier League season - with some losing thousands - as fraudsters cash in on demand for high-profile matches. The figures come from Lloyds bank, which said football ticket scams had jumped by 36% over the past six months compared with a year earlier, while the total amount stolen had soared by 42%.

Almost a third - 32 % - of all ticket scams are now linked to football, underlining how criminals are targeting supporters desperate to secure seats for major fixtures.

With the World Cup, hosted across the United States, Canada and Mexico, just weeks away, ministers and banks fear the problem will escalate further.

Fans chasing tickets for top clubs including Arsenal, Liverpool, Chelsea and Manchester United are among those most frequently targeted, alongside showpiece games such as the FA Cup Final and Champions League Final.

Fraudsters typically lure victims with offers of hard-to-get tickets, before disappearing once payment is made. Liz Ziegler, fraud prevention director at Lloyds, said: "Fraudsters thrive on urgency and target fans looking for hard-to-get tickets for big-name fixtures.

"Most of the football ticket scams we see start on social media - especially Facebook and Instagram - before the criminal moves the buyer onto WhatsApp and insists on a bank transfer to pay. It's incredibly convincing, and we don't want fans to lose their money trying to support their team."

The warning comes as the Home Office teams up with Lloyds to promote its Stop! Think Fraud campaign. Fraud minister Lord Hanson said: "As excitement builds for the World Cup, fraudsters are preparing to exploit loyal fans searching for tickets.

"I urge all football supporters hunting for tickets to Stop! Think Fraud and show fraudsters the red card. Only buy directly from FIFA or the FIFA resale marketplace."

Experts say the scams often begin with adverts on social media marketplaces offering last-minute tickets. Victims are then encouraged to move the conversation to private messaging apps, where they are pressured into sending money via bank transfer - a method favoured by criminals because it is difficult to trace.

In many cases, buyers are promised QR codes, pre-release tickets or access to waiting lists that simply do not exist. There are also fears that the higher cost of World Cup travel and tickets could leave victims facing even bigger losses.

One fan, Edinburgh barber Robert Paterson, said he had already encountered suspicious listings while searching for seats.

"Like any passionate Scotland supporter, I'm over the moon we've qualified for the World Cup for the first time in nearly 20 years," he said.

"But I've definitely come across a number of questionable listings, with many tickets appearing either massively overpriced or outright dodgy - especially on Facebook."

Officials are urging fans to stick to official sellers, avoid bank transfers and be wary of deals that appear too good to be true. Anyone who believes they have been targeted is advised to report the incident to Action Fraud as part of a wider crackdown, backed by a £31million investment in a new online crime centre aimed at shutting down scam networks.