A fraudster who swindled more than £5,000 from seven people has been sentenced.

Jordan Moore appeared at Chester Crown Court on Friday 19 June where he was sentenced to 19 months in prison, suspended for two years.

The 32-year-old, of Reedville, Smithy Lane, Little Sutton, Ellesmere Port, had earlier pleaded guilty to seven counts of fraud by false representation.Moore was also ordered to complete 100 hours unpaid work and pay £3808 compensation.

The court heard how between November 2023 and March 2025 Moore defrauded seven victims out of more than £5,000.Of the seven charges, five counts related to the fraudulent sale of Taylor Swift concert tickets, which Moore advertised on Facebook and Gumtree.Within the posts, he claimed to have two tickets for a concert in Dublin which he was selling due to a breakup in his relationship.

The remaining two charges related to the fraudulent sale of greyhound equipment.

Following the sentencing, Police Constable Hindley, from Cheshire Police said:“Moore preyed on his victims, specifically using Taylor Swift tickets as a hook to lure them in and defraud them of thousands of pounds.

“He was well aware that what he was doing was wrong, but he thought that he would be able to outsmart his victims and avoid justice.“Unfortunately for him, thanks to the information provided by the victims, and the evidence gathered by the team here at Cheshire Police, his plans fell apart and he has now been held accountable for his actions.”

Following Moore’s sentencing, officers are keen to remind people about the dangers of buying tickets on social media accounts.While the internet now makes it much easier to buy and sell items, unfortunately, as we’ve seen in this case, it also makes it easier for dishonest sellers to defraud victims.Therefore, if you’re looking to buy tickets for any upcoming events we would advise you to follow this advice –

Where to buy tickets: Only buy tickets from the venue’s box office, official promoter or agent, or a well-known ticketing website.

Paying for tickets: Avoid paying for tickets by bank transfer, especially if buying from someone unknown. Credit card or payment services such as PayPal give you a better chance of recovering the money if you become a victim of fraud.Secure your account: The password you use for your email account, as well as any other accounts you use to purchase tickets, should be different from all your other passwords. Use three random words to create a strong and memorable password, and enable 2-step verification

Ticket spam:Be wary of unsolicited emails, texts or adverts offering unbelievably good deals on tickets.Look for the logo: Is the vendor a member of the Society of Ticket Agents and Retailers (STAR)? If they are, the company has signed up to their strict governing standards. STAR also offers an approved Alternative Dispute Resolution service to help customers with outstanding complaints. For more information visit star.org.uk/buy_safe .

What to do if you’re a victim of ticket fraud -If you have made a payment: Inform your bank as soon as possible, they can help you prevent any further losses. Monitor your bank statements regularly for any unusual activity.Identity theft: If you have shared personal or financial information, and suspect your identity may have been stolen, you can check your credit file quickly and easily online. You should do this every few months anyway, using a reputable service provider and follow up on any unexpected or suspicious results. You can also sign up for Cifas services which can help to protect you against fraud.

You could be targeted again: Fraudsters sometimes re-establish contact with previous victims claiming that they can help them recover lost money, this is just a secondary scam. Hang up on any callers that claim they can get your money back for you.

Report it: Call Report Fraud on 0300 123 2040 or visit Reporting cyber crime and fraud or phishing attempts – Report Fraud