10:08 AM
klee
Thinking of buying some concert tickets today? Worried about being ripped off by thieving, fraudulent scumbags? Well some good news reported today has revealed that Wandsworth Council have today closed down a number of bogus websites run by an international gang of online fraudsters.
The websites, which were set up to trick gig-goers into parting with their hard-earned cash, were closed down by Wandsworth Council's trading standards team after the fraudsters were inadvertently using a Wandsworth Council owned building as a mailing address to register the bogus websites.
Websites that were closed include; www.barry-manilow-2012-support.com, www.coldplay-tour-2012.com, www.il-divo-live.com, www.jls-tickets.com, www.michael-mcintyre-live.net, www.michael-mcintyre.com and www.westlife-concert-tickets-support.com, all of which were run by the fraudsters who tricked individuals into buying non-existent tickets to, as you can see, some of the top concerts of 2012.
The gang of scammers unfortunately swindled around 1,900 people from across the UK before Wandsworth Council were able to close the sites, however, action has now been taken to stop the thieves taking any more money from unsuspecting victims.
After identifying the Internet Service Provider (ISP) addresses related to the fake websites, authorities quickly shut them down and made sure search engines, such as Google, de-listed the sites. Action has also been taken to deactivate the online facilities used to process cash payments, freezing around £40,000 before it was pocketed by the fraudsters. The money will be used by credit card companies to reimburse those who were scammed.
Speaking about the operation, Chief trading standards officer Christophr Roe told www.safeconcerts.com: “As soon as we got wind of what was happening we were able to step in and put a stop to this unpleasant scam. Unfortunately a lot of people have paid money for tickets that are never going to arrive, but at least we have managed to stop the criminals pocketing all the cash and ensured that £40,000 is available to help pay back the victims.”
Online ticket scams and bogus websites have been an increasing problem for the music industry. Scam websites spring-up and do business alongside secondary ticket market websites before the authorities can detect them and shut them down. Stereoboard advises music lovers to carefully check who they buy tickets from – and to avoid handing over cash to unauthorised outlets.
To do our bit we've collated a list of potential threats to be aware of when purchasing tickets online. The following ticket sites, listed below, we believe to be online scams. These web sites all operate behind anonymous domain registrations setup outside of the UK and Europe, and advertise through Google to lure unsuspecting victims. Various accounts of consumer fraud have been reported to Stereoboard.com regarding these operations.
Remember: Just because the artist name may appear in the domain, and the site looks professional or official, this does not mean that it's kosher!
The websites, which were set up to trick gig-goers into parting with their hard-earned cash, were closed down by Wandsworth Council's trading standards team after the fraudsters were inadvertently using a Wandsworth Council owned building as a mailing address to register the bogus websites.
Websites that were closed include; www.barry-manilow-2012-support.com, www.coldplay-tour-2012.com, www.il-divo-live.com, www.jls-tickets.com, www.michael-mcintyre-live.net, www.michael-mcintyre.com and www.westlife-concert-tickets-support.com, all of which were run by the fraudsters who tricked individuals into buying non-existent tickets to, as you can see, some of the top concerts of 2012.
The gang of scammers unfortunately swindled around 1,900 people from across the UK before Wandsworth Council were able to close the sites, however, action has now been taken to stop the thieves taking any more money from unsuspecting victims.
After identifying the Internet Service Provider (ISP) addresses related to the fake websites, authorities quickly shut them down and made sure search engines, such as Google, de-listed the sites. Action has also been taken to deactivate the online facilities used to process cash payments, freezing around £40,000 before it was pocketed by the fraudsters. The money will be used by credit card companies to reimburse those who were scammed.
Speaking about the operation, Chief trading standards officer Christophr Roe told www.safeconcerts.com: “As soon as we got wind of what was happening we were able to step in and put a stop to this unpleasant scam. Unfortunately a lot of people have paid money for tickets that are never going to arrive, but at least we have managed to stop the criminals pocketing all the cash and ensured that £40,000 is available to help pay back the victims.”
Online ticket scams and bogus websites have been an increasing problem for the music industry. Scam websites spring-up and do business alongside secondary ticket market websites before the authorities can detect them and shut them down. Stereoboard advises music lovers to carefully check who they buy tickets from – and to avoid handing over cash to unauthorised outlets.
To do our bit we've collated a list of potential threats to be aware of when purchasing tickets online. The following ticket sites, listed below, we believe to be online scams. These web sites all operate behind anonymous domain registrations setup outside of the UK and Europe, and advertise through Google to lure unsuspecting victims. Various accounts of consumer fraud have been reported to Stereoboard.com regarding these operations.
Remember: Just because the artist name may appear in the domain, and the site looks professional or official, this does not mean that it's kosher!
- 2011leedsfestival.com
2011readingfestival.com
andrerieuconcerts.com
barrymanilow-live.net
barrymanilowlive.com
barrymanilowlive.net
buy-kingsofleon-tickets.com
buykingsofleontickets.com
cliffrichardlive.com
cliff-richard-2011.com
ericclaptonandhisband.com
fans2fanstickets.com
hydeparkconcerts.com
jameslast.org
jls-tickets.com
katyperry-tour.com
kylieconcerts.com
kylieconcerts.net
ladygagamonsterball.com
ladygagamonsterball.net
ladygagamonsterball.org
lee-evans-roadrunner.com
leedsfestival-2011.com
madness-tickets.com
meatloafconcert.com
michaelbublelive.com
michaelbublelive.net
michaelbublelive.org
michael-mcintyre-tickets.com
neildiamondlive.com
olympics-tickets.net
olly-murs-tickets.com
paramoreconcerts.com
paulmccartneylive.net
paulwellerlive.net
peterkaylivetickets.com
readingfestival-2011.com
rogerwaters-live.net
rogerwaterslive.net
roxy-music.net
shakiraconcert.net
TakeThatConcertTickets.com
Take-That-Robbie.com
TakeThat-Reunion.com
tinthepark2011.com
tinthepark2011.net
tintheparktickets.com
tintheparktickets.net
totaltickets.co.uk
usherlivetour.com
vfestival2011tickets.com
v-festival-2011.com
westlifeboxoffice.com
worldwideticketstore.com
This is not an exhaustive list, and we suspect many others are out there. If you know of any sites which you believe to be scams which are not listed above please get in touch with us - tickets@stereoboard.com.
We'd also advise to steer well clear of the following ticket touts/brokers, although they are not set up as scams, they are well known to sell tickets they do not possess and there are various and regular reports of fans being left without tickets or no offers of refunds:
- www.amishowtime.com (AMI Showtime)
www.cityticketservice.com (City Ticket Service) *NEW*
www.gogoboxoffice.com (GOGO Box Office) *NEW*
www.gigsport.com (Gig Sport) *CLOSED*
www.goldstartickets.co.uk (Gold Star Tickets)
www.euroteam.net (Euro Team)
www.blceventtickets.com (BLC Event Tickets)
www.theticketwebsite.net (The Ticket Website)
www.ticketindex.net (Ticket Index) *CLOSED*
www.tickets2allevents.com (Tickets 2 All Events) *FORMERLY GIG SPORT*
www.vipblocktickets.com (VIP Block Tickets)
www.yourticketmarket.com (Your Ticket Market)
Stereoboard.com works with authorised sellers, and safe ticket exchanges, to compare event & gig tickets. Please do not buy from any unofficial sites not listed at Stereoboard.com as you take the risk of being scammed and your tickets not being honoured by the event's organisers. You may not realise you are being scammed until your tickets fail to arrive. WE URGE YOU TO ONLY USE THE SITES LINKED TO FROM STEREOBOARD.COM WHEN BUYING TICKETS ONLINE.
Visit Consumer Direct for more information on ticket scams and recovering your money.
In February 2011, Stereoboard produced a viral video to warn fans against disreputable tout ticket sellers. ‘Access All Areas’, which has received over 30,000 views so far, follows the fate of a group of music fans who opt to go ‘off road’ obtaining their tickets unofficially, to blag their way backstage at a major gig. They ultimately get left out in the cold in the video. The film can we viewed at www.youtube.com/StereoboardTV or you can of course view the video below.
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