As part of the Office of Fair Trading’s (OFT) Scamnesty Month Cardiff Council Trading Standards is warning residents about the dangers of fake ticketing websites.
With the release of London 2012 tickets in March 2011 and Various Music festivals, residents need to be alert to these fake websites. The scam works by visiting a website that guarantees you tickets to popular sports and music events – even when they have already sold out or tickets haven’t yet gone on sale. If you pay, you’ll never see the tickets. Your calls and emails will either go unanswered, or you’ll be told a representative will meet you at the venue – but nobody will turn up.
You will be left out of pocket and unable to attend the event. Similar scams operate on eBay and on social networking websites.
How to avoid being scammed:
- Has the website got tickets to sell? Check with the venue to find out when tickets are being released for sale and when the tickets will be sent out.
- Who is the website registered to? And how long has it been registered? You can search for domain name registration details using an online search tool.
- What are others saying about the website? Search the internet to find out what other people’s experiences have been.
- How can you contact the company? Check that you know their full geographic address and check they have a working landline phone number.
- Can they provide ticket details? Ensure that the face value of the tickets and the seat location are clearly listed.
- Do they provide refunds? Make sure there is a refund policy in case something goes wrong.
- Pass on the warnings. Tell your friends and family if you discover a fake ticketing website.
Councillor Judith Woodman, Cardiff Council Deputy Leader for Communities said: “In the run up to events such London 2012 and various pop and rock concerts, there are many opportunities for scammers to target consumers. We encourage residents to follow the simple advice above in order to minimise the risk of losing money and the disappointment of missing out on your favourite music and sporting events.”
Consumers can report all types of scams at www.consumerdirect.gov.uk/reportascam
