Scots Music Fans Targeted in Ticket Scam on Viagogo
Scots music fans are falling victim to a massive ticket scam on the ticket reselling site Viagogo, where international con artists are selling thousands of tickets they don’t actually possess. The Daily Record has uncovered evidence of a potential fraud targeting fans of Scottish band Travis and other popular shows at the OVO Hydro in Glasgow, such as Premier League Darts, Peter Kay, and Disney on Ice. Touts from countries like Ukraine, Germany, Slovakia, and America are engaging in “spec selling” on Viagogo, where they sell tickets at inflated prices, well above face value, and Viagogo takes a hefty commission on each sale. Most of the tickets being sold fraudulently on Viagogo are still available at face value on primary ticketing sites like Ticketmaster.
Campaigners like Adam Webb from the FanFair Alliance have condemned this practice, calling it a complete scam and urging for stricter legislation to protect fans from being ripped off. Despite Viagogo claiming to have mechanisms in place to detect and remove fraudulent listings, many scam tickets continue to be available on their platform. The issue is particularly prevalent for events at the OVO Hydro, with numerous artists being affected by spec selling, leading to fans unknowingly purchasing overpriced tickets from Viagogo.
The Daily Record’s investigation found that hundreds of tickets for a Travis concert at the OVO Hydro were listed on Viagogo by sellers from Ukraine, with many tickets still available at face value on official ticketing sites. The scam not only deceives fans but also violates consumer rights by failing to provide accurate details about the tickets being sold. SNP MP Pete Wishart has voiced his outrage at the exploitation of music fans by fraudsters and has called for swift action to crack down on such practices.
Travis has issued a warning to their fans to avoid secondary ticketing sites like Viagogo and to use official channels only. With the UK Government expected to announce a new consultation on ticketing reform, there is hope for stronger regulations to protect consumers from falling victim to ticket scams and spec selling.
**Insights and Summary:**
The practice of “spec selling” on ticket reselling platforms like Viagogo continues to exploit music fans, especially in Scotland, where notable artists perform at venues like the OVO Hydro in Glasgow. Despite efforts by campaigners and lawmakers to crack down on fraudulent ticket sales, international touts are still able to deceive unsuspecting buyers and profit from inflated ticket prices. It is crucial for consumers to be cautious and use official channels to purchase tickets to avoid falling prey to such scams. Concert-goers should be vigilant and informed to protect themselves from being duped by dishonest sellers on secondary ticketing platforms.