Emmerdale's Lisa Riley warns over ticket and AI image scams after £9,600 theft

Emmerdale actress Lisa Riley has described being targeted by ticket fraud and AI-generated image scams in a broadcast interview about the growing threat of online deception. She said scammers are becoming more convincing and warned that victims should not feel ashamed about coming forward.

Ticket scam

Riley said she tried to buy Stevie Wonder tickets for her mother, who was seriously ill. The Manchester show sold out within two hours. She searched online and clicked the first result, which appeared to offer a Manchester Arena VIP package with drinks before the show and at half-time. She said the website looked completely authentic, with a dot-com address and a secure symbol. She bought four tickets, for herself, her father, her mother and her brother. Her bank then alerted her. She said just under £10,000, around £9,600, was taken in 20 minutes. The fraudsters spent money on items including driving lessons and gift cards. Riley praised her bank for stepping in, but said the speed of the theft showed how quickly people can be hit. She had no idea the site was fake.

She said the experience changed how she operates online. She now works with Nationwide, which has given her advice and help on spotting bank fraud. She wants to use that knowledge to help others. She added that people often feel silly about reporting scams, and she hoped her story would encourage them to speak out.

AI images

Riley also described years of AI-generated images being used with her likeness. Some false posts claimed she had died, and others claimed fellow cast members had died. The most distressing, she said, involved her infertility. Riley has spoken openly about four failed rounds of IVF. Her cousin contacted her with an AI image that appeared to show her saying congratulations, I'm pregnant. Riley said she cannot get pregnant and the image hurt more than she could put into words.

People have approached her in the supermarket asking how the posts can continue. She said the fraud squad and police tell her they want to help, but there is little they can do. She advised people to check her verified social media accounts: if a claim is not on her page with the blue tick, it should be treated as false. She said AI has useful sides and she uses it in her work, but it also has a damaging side.

When she reported the images, she rang her workplace in tears. She said her tech team and the public can report posts, after which Meta will remove them. But as soon as one is taken down, another appears within an hour. She also described fake ticket and meet-and-greet adverts using her and other Emmerdale characters to invite fans to events that do not exist. She said fans have spent thousands on tickets that were never available.

Her advice to the public is to pause, take a breath and be sceptical, especially as Christmas approaches and more shopping moves online. She said people should assume an offer is probably fraudulent. The interview also noted new research suggesting people are targeted by scammers multiple times a week, and that AI is making it harder to tell real messages from fake ones.