Essex Police Target Bogus 2012 Tickets

18 February 2011, 15:19 | Updated: 2 March 2011, 14:26

Essex Police are linking up with the Metropolitan Police to make sure people don't get ripped off when Olympic tickets go on sale in March.

More than 8 million tickets will be available on March 15 for the Olympic Games, but fans are urged to think carefully about where they buy them.

Essex Police and the Met are going to crackdown on bogus websites and fake tickets as part of Operation Podium.

Chief Inspector John Walker, from Essex Police’s Olympic Planning team, said: "The 2012 Games will be the biggest sporting event this country has ever hosted with Essex hosting its own event, mountain biking at Hadleigh Farm.

"Criminals will be looking for ways to benefit from the Games, either through selling fake tickets or setting up professional looking sites offering accommodation and other services which may look genuine, but could leave you a victim.

 "Our message is that there are only limited ways to purchase tickets. If you are offered something that appears to be a bargain and too good to be true it probably is.

"There is some easy-to-follow advice which will help keep you safe and ensure you can enjoy the Games next year.”

If you’re buying a ticket for the Games:

The London 2012 ticket application process opens on the 15 March and you have until 26 April to apply for tickets through LOCOG as tickets are not allocated on a first come first served basis.    

The only way to apply for a ticket in the UK is at www.tickets.london2012.com. This is London 2012’s official site. You can also get a postal application from any Lloyds TSB branch.

Don’t buy a ticket from an unauthorised website or tout. You risk being scammed, and not getting the ticket you wanted and paid for.

If you get a ticket for an event you can’t attend, you can return your ticket to get a refund through the London 2012 official ticket exchange. Your ticket will then be officially resold. Details of this will be announced in due course.

There are only three official providers for Games Breaks and Hospitality Packages in the UK - these are:

Thomas Cook - www.thomascooklondon2012.com

Prestige Travel - www.prestigeticketing.london2012.com

Jet Set Travel - www.jetsetsports.com

Other websites or companies will not be authorised to sell you a ticket as part of a package in the UK. Always check the terms and conditions to see exactly what you are being sold.

If you find tickets for sale before the 15th March 2011 or available from any unauthorised source at anytime, don’t buy them.  They are not genuine. Report it to your local police, or London 2012 via brandprotection@london2012.com