Event Ticketing Scams
International sporting events and concerts featuring international artists bring scammers from around the world out of the woodwork attempting to profit from the excitement surrounding major events.
Bogus ticket sellers, sometimes offering travel/accommodation packages as well, have caught many sporting and music fans in their web of deception.
Often targeted are the Summer and Winter Olympic Games; Commonwealth Games; Rugby, Cricket and Soccer World Cups; AFL and NRL Grand Finals and numerous concerts by popular performers.
Many fake websites emerge prior to these events, some looking deceptively professional, but all are designed to rob you of your money and the opportunity to attend these events. Some ticket buyers aren’t aware their tickets are fakes until they arrive at the venue at considerable cost and are refused admission.
As an example, FIFA recently closed down 100 fake sites selling bogus tickets to the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, in an operation involving the E-crime Unit at the New Scotland Yard in the UK.
Each of these major events has official secure websites and authorised ticket sellers so buyers should make sure they are purchasing from these genuine sources. Some events even have a ballot system for purchasing tickets so bookings are not confirmed until the lottery has been drawn.
Payment by wire transfer should be avoided and, remember, that private sales do not offer any protection to the buyer.