Gig-Goers 'Beware Online Fraudsters'

Dozens of people in Northern Ireland have lost cash on dodgy online ticket websites in the past year.

With a packed summer events calendar ahead, the Trading Standards Service (TSS) is warning music and sports fans not to be conned by the increasing number of sophisticated fake ticketing sites that are appearing online.

Recent research from the Office of Fair Trading (OFT) reveals that one in 12 ticket buyers have been caught out by scam ticket websites, with victims losing an average of £80 each.

Damien Doherty, from TSS, said: "In the last year alone, dozens of Northern Ireland consumers lost money over scam sites, offering tickets for everything from Metallica's recent gig at the Odyssey to Take That's Croke Park concert.

"These sites offer cheap or scarce tickets to a popular event that is sold out or tickets that aren't even on sale yet. Once consumers have paid, the tickets aren't delivered, leaving fans disappointed and often hundreds of pounds out of pocket," he said.

"Event-goers are often told that a customer representative will et them at the venue on the day but nobody turns up.

"Attempts to contact the scam companies to complain are often thwarted when telephone calls go unanswered or divert to a different number, or the website has disappeared," he said.

The Trading Standards Service is backing the Office of Fair Trading (OFT) 'Just Tick It' campaign, which urges event-goers to take simple steps to help ensure they are not scammed when buying tickets online.

Damien concluded: "The 'Just Tick It' campaign gives ticket buyers the valuable advice they need to help protect themselves from ticket scammers when buying online.

"Consumers can avoid falling victim in the first place by following the clear and simple advice on how to spot a scam."

(Photo: Belfast City Council)

See: www.consumerline.org

(BMcC/GK)