Pitch invasion, penalties and payment fraud: the dark side of the World Cup

WHAT a World Cup it has been, and what an ending to close the tournament. Six goals, a VAR-awarded penalty, an own goal and a pitch invasion. Croatia, despite their defeat, can hold their heads up high. The team's success was an inspiration, with proud Croatians claiming that it has brought optimism that has cast its spell over the whole society.

This sort of unbridled optimism makes the Football World Cup a boon for businesses - both in the host country, and around the world. Russia has already reported that it expects a 15 per cent increase in international influx of tourists following the World Cup.

However, sporting optimism and the resulting uptick in consumer spending also has a dark side, creating a perfect opportunity for fraudsters to strike (and the offside rule does not exist in the world of cybercrime).