Every time we close entries for one of our races — whether it’s sold out or just closed to allow time for us to prepare for race day — the scammers swoop in.
It’s become a frustratingly familiar pattern: as soon as an event sells out, fake profiles pop up in the comments, claiming to have “tickets” or “entries” for sale. They target runners who missed out on a place and are desperate to find a way in. Unfortunately, these scammers are getting more convincing every year.
They pop up in comments claiming to have tickets for sale, preying on runners who missed out and are eager to get a spot. We saw it again last week after our Everyone Active Tunnel Vision Night Run & Dual Entry places sold out. Within minutes of the announcement on social media, scammy comments started appearing. Offers that look real at a first glance, but which definitely weren’t. 
Please be careful.
Some of these posts are easy to spot:
- The scammer uses the wrong currency (asking for $$ instead of ££).
- They copy and paste the same message across multiple event pages.
- They can’t answer simple questions about the event or runner details.
But others are more sophisticated. They’ll look at our previous posts and learn a bit about the event. They might well message you privately if you’ve posted asking for places online, offering to “transfer” an entry or “sell” you their bib.
If you’re considering buying a second-hand place, PLEASE double-check it’s legit before sending across any money. We’re always happy to confirm if the seller is a genuine entrant. Just message us their name and we’ll look it up for you.
At Race Harborough, our terms and conditions are that we offer free transfer of a place to another runner up until a week before race day. At this point we need to stop transfers in order to pass runner details on to the medical and timing companies ready for the event day.
If anybody is trying to sell you their race place (genuine or not!) after this point, transfers are no longer available, so you will not be able to run in the event.
Best advice?
Always enter early, and always book directly with us — it helps you and us plan for the race better.
Booking directly through the official event website or organiser is always the safest option. Not only does it guarantee your spot, but it also helps us plan everything properly — from medals and goodies to safety cover and logistics.
When you register early, you’re not just securing your place; you’re helping the whole event run more smoothly!
