Fake Reading Festival tickets
11 April 2010, 06:00
Police are warning about fake Reading Festival tickets, after a man pleaded guilty to fraud relating to the sale of concert tickets.
Ashley Davis, 22, from Merryman Drive in Crowthorne, admitted 27 counts of fraud. He placed adverts on websites like eBay and Gumtree offering tickets for various concerts, including last year's Reading Festival. Once he'd received the buyer's money he did not post the tickets as he had previously agreed.
Detective Constable Sally Russell, who investigated the case, said, "The case of Davis should act as a warning to other people tempted to buy tickets for events like the Reading Festival from unofficial sources on the internet."
Pam Gregory, from the Trading Standards team at Reading Borough Council, said it is a very busy time of year for them, "We will be very busy now, looking at websites and trying to close them down, particularly those from abroad. But that's a difficult task."
Listen to the full interview with Pam Gregory
Trading Standards are now warning us to be extra careful if we buy tickets for the festival, as in previous years festival-goers have been turned away at the gate with fake tickets, which they thought were real.
Trading Standards' Top Tips:
- Make sure you buy your ticket from an official seller. You can check who these are at this website
- If you have already bought a fake ticket with your credit card you can get your money back from your credit card company.
- If you have used a debit card you may be able to get your money back from your bank.