Al-Amn Magazine

SPORT S ports fans and cybercriminals both look forward to major sporting events, but for very different reasons. Fake ticket sites, stolen login details, and DDoS attacks are common ways criminals try to make money or disrupt an event. Why are sports events targeted? Events like the FIFA World Cup, the Olympics, and major sports leagues pull in millions of viewers. The 2026 FIFA World Cup is expected to draw over 5.5 million fans in person, with 6 billion more engaging worldwide with the newly expanded 48-team tournament, generating massive online traffic across platforms such as ticketing, betting, streaming, and merchandise sales. Ticketing and betting platforms could be prime targets for cybercriminals because they hold a large amount of sensitive personal and financial information. With online sports betting growing fast, the chances of fraud have increased as well. Criminals might try to manipulate betting odds, steal money through fake transactions, or trick users with phishing scams to gain access to their accounts. But it’s not just the platforms themselves that could be at risk. The entire IT setup behind sports venues includes employee devices, security cameras, cloud systems, and edge computing. All of these add more possible ways for attackers to get in. The more connected everything is, the bigger the potential attack surface becomes. The stakes are high. Even a short disruption can affect millions of people and cost companies money. It can also damage a brand’s reputation if fans lose trust in the service. “It is essential for organizations to stay informed about the latest cyber threats, attack methods, and emerging trends. This includes monitoring security advisories, threat intelligence reports, and industry news. By understanding the attack landscape, organizations can anticipate potential threats and develop countermeasures to mitigate their impact,” said Ashish Khanna, Senior Director, Verizon’s Global Cyber Defense Practice. Main cyber threats for sports events Here are the main threats sports organizations and event planners should watch out for: Ticketing fraud and fake sites Fake ticket websites are on the rise. Scammers copy official logos and branding to trick fans with promises of cheap or VIP tickets. These sites often appear high in search results during big tournaments. Before the Paris 2024 Olympics, the French Gendarmerie Nationale identified 338 fraudulent websites claiming to sell Olympic tickets. Even official ticketing systems are vulnerable. PSG’s ticket office was targeted by a New t arget s for crimi na l s Cyberat t acks changi ng game for major sport s event s