More than 1,000 fake IPL-related domains are being used to run online scams and malware attacks against cricket fans during the ongoing Indian Premier League season, according to a new report.
CloudSEK’s analysis found more than 600 fraudulent domains selling fake IPL tickets and over 400 fake “free streaming” websites, many of which were being used to deliver malware. The report said cybercriminals are taking advantage of the excitement, urgency and emotional behaviour of fans, especially those searching for last-minute tickets or free online streams during major matches.
Sourajeet Majumder said the fake ticketing backend shows how organised these scams have become. According to him, scammers are not just selling fake tickets. They are also tracking conversions, changing prices, verifying payments and collecting victim data that can later be reused or sold for future fraud campaigns.
The report said many fake ticketing websites copied the look and feel of trusted platforms by using familiar logos, layouts and booking flows. Visitors were asked to choose seats, enter personal details and complete payments through UPI, cards, QR codes or payment gateways.
In some cases, victims even received fake PDF tickets with booking IDs and QR codes after making payments. They only realised they had been scammed when the tickets were rejected at stadium entry gates.
CloudSEK also found that some scammers were using Meta Pixel integration to monitor clicks, form submissions and payment activity. This allowed them to improve their fraud campaigns in a way similar to how legitimate online businesses track customer behaviour.
If this article helped you, please consider supporting our work. Every small contribution keeps Abijita.com independent and running.
The report also warned about fake IPL streaming websites, which are being optimised for searches like “IPL free live stream” and match-specific streaming queries. Many of these sites acted as gateways for malware infections, suspicious redirects and credential theft attacks, putting cricket fans at serious risk while they searched for free ways to watch matches online.
