Festival-goers warned of online ticket scams
More than 5000 fans were scammed when trying to buy tickets for the UK's top music festivals last summer, figures released for the OFT's Just Tick It campaign reveal.
The statistics were provided by the organisers of Reading Festival, Leeds Festival, V-Festival, Download and the Wireless Festival as they joined the campaign warning consumers about online fraudulent ticket sites. The figures are based on complaints last year by festival-goers who had paid for tickets online and not received them, or who bought fake tickets and were subsequently turned away at the gates.
The festival organisers have joined the OFT and a host of music stars including JLS, the lostprophets, Craig David, Kate Nash, Biffy Clyro, Dave Rowntree from Blur, Dan Hipgrave from Toploader, Frank Turner and Nick Mason from Pink Floyd to support the campaign which warns music-lovers about online scams.
Despite many summer festival events having sold out those desperate to see their favourite bands play live often turn to the internet in the hunt for a ticket. OFT research last year found that one in twelve ticket buyers had admitted to having been caught out by a scam ticket website. with victims losing an average of £80.
Speaking about fake ticket scams, Welsh rockers the lostprophets said: 'We have toured all over the world, and on our travels have heard about fans and friends who have lost money by buying tickets from scam ticket websites.
'We're supporting the OFT's Just Tick It campaign to help spread the word about these fake ticket websites - this summer we are playing at both Reading and Leeds Festivals so want to make sure that no one is scammed in this way when trying to come and see us perform. Everyone should make sure that the website selling tickets is legitimate before buying their tickets.'
Michele Shambrook, Operations Manager for the OFT-managed advice service Consumer Direct, said: 'The Just Tick It campaign is here to give fans practical advice on how to check a website is legitimate before buying tickets online. We hope people will use our simple checklist to ensure they don't get scammed when looking for tickets to this summer's music and sporting events.'
The Just Tick It campaign is urging everyone to tick off the following checklist before buying tickets online from a website:
How has the website got the tickets to sell? Check with the festival to find out when tickets are being released for sale and when the tickets will be sent out.
Find out 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 behind the website? 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/festival area are clearly listed and consistent with the official festival website.
Do they provide refunds? Make sure there is a refund policy in case something goes wrong.
For more information about scam ticket websites and how to protect yourself visit consumerdirect.gov.uk/ticketscams.