OFT Launches 'Just Tick It' Campaign Against Scam Ticket Sites
Friday, 11 September 2009
Written by Stereoboard.com
The Office of Fair Trading (OFT) has launched an initiative to protect the interests of UK consumers from fake ticket reselling sites.
Dubbed 'Just Tick It', the OFT and Consumer Direct aim to educate consumers on what to look out for when purchasing their tickets online, and how to spot those scams.
With the web seemingly awash with scam ticket selling sites, (Do a web search for Arctic Monkeys Tickets!), the OFT lists the following guidelines to consumers:
Just Tick It!
* How has the website got these 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.
The OFT estimates that 20% of ticket buyers know someone who has been ripped off by a fraudulent ticketing Website, and one-in-twelve ticket buyers have fallen victim to an online scam themselves.
"The 'Just Tick It' campaign gives ticket buyers the valuable advice they need to help protect themselves from ticket scammers when buying online," said Mike Haley from the Office of Fair Trading. "Consumers can avoid falling victim in the first place by following our clear and simple advice on how to spot a scam site."
Music and sports stars including Kate Nash, Dave Rowntree from Blur, Fightstar, and England rugby captain Steve Borthwick are backing the campaign to help raise awareness of the issue and to help protect their fans.
Eric Baker, CEO and founder of UK-based secondary ticket exchange site viagogo.co.uk, said "In fact, for the last three years at viagogo we have been advising fans on how to avoid getting ripped off in the secondary market by offering a safe and secure ticket exchange."
He added, "It is the sole reason viagogo exists. Last year, at Reading alone, the festival organizers estimated that 5,000 people were turned away from the gate having arrived with invalid tickets."
Baker went on to say, "Festival goers in the UK have been defrauded out of a staggering £15m by rip-off merchants selling fake tickets."
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The Office of Fair Trading (OFT) has launched an initiative to protect the interests of UK consumers from fake ticket reselling sites.
The OFT estimates that 20% of ticket buyers know someone who has been ripped off by a fraudulent ticketing Website, and one-in-twelve ticket buyers have fallen victim to an online scam themselves.
