Police have warned Taylor Swift fans who missed out on tickets to the singer's upcoming Eras tour not to fall prey to ticketing scams.
Victoria Police said there had been more than 250 reports of ticketing scams for the Eras Tour alone since tickets went on sale in June last year.
Swift is set to start the Australian leg of her Eras tour on February 16 with three nights of concerts in Melbourne. Four concerts are scheduled in Sydney from February 23-26.
The total amount lost to scammers is more than $260,000.
Police said there had been reports of people having their social media accounts hacked and then used to sell fake tickets to the victim's friends.
There have been more than 40 reports in Victoria of the hacking scam since January 30 this year.
Victoria Police said scammers using this method would hack a profile and advertise tickets "at cost price" with a story about why they could no longer attend the concert.
Once the victim has transferred money, the scammers will then block the victim's profile from contacting the hacked account.
The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission's Scamwatch said it had received more than 270 reports of people in New South Wales and Victoria being scammed trying to buy Taylor Swift tickets.
Scamwatch said its figures only reflected reports it had directly received and many more people may make reports directly to police.
Detective Sergeant John Cheyne from the Cybercrime Squad urged people to be on the lookout for scams as the tour moved closer.
"We know you're often too in love to think straight when it comes to nabbing a ticket to the Eras Tour, but please, keep your side of the street clean and protect yourself. Only buy tickets from an authorised reseller," he said.
"I've spent my whole life trying to put it into words – do your research, and don't let your pennies make their crown.
"So make the friendship bracelets because karma will be the breeze in your hair next weekend."
Victoria Police said the safest way to buy Eras Tour tickets was from an authorised ticket seller such as the Ticketek marketplace.
If you buy tickets from friends on social media, police advise contacting the friend independently of social media to check that they have not been hacked.
Police urged anyone who had information about ticketing scams to contact CrimeStoppers on 1800 333 000.