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| Viagogo warns of rising number of ticket scams | Viagogo warns of rising number of ticket scams |
| (6 months later) | |
| Ticket scams are "on the rise" with Britons being ripped off to the tune of £50m over the past year alone, according to a study. | Ticket scams are "on the rise" with Britons being ripped off to the tune of £50m over the past year alone, according to a study. |
| The research from ticket resale website Viagogo names Coldplay, the Rolling Stones and One Direction as the acts most targeted by fraudsters during the period, but its findings were disputed by a leading ticket fraud expert. | The research from ticket resale website Viagogo names Coldplay, the Rolling Stones and One Direction as the acts most targeted by fraudsters during the period, but its findings were disputed by a leading ticket fraud expert. |
| Viagogo, which describes itself as "the world's largest ticket marketplace", claimed that as many as 1.1 million music, sports, theatre and comedy fans had lost money over the past 12 months. | Viagogo, which describes itself as "the world's largest ticket marketplace", claimed that as many as 1.1 million music, sports, theatre and comedy fans had lost money over the past 12 months. |
| It added that people are now more likely to be duped by fake ticket websites, auction sites and via Facebook and Twitter than the "traditional" tout outside a venue. | It added that people are now more likely to be duped by fake ticket websites, auction sites and via Facebook and Twitter than the "traditional" tout outside a venue. |
| Young people were most at risk, with 18-24-year-olds the most likely to buy from unknown online sources, the company said. | Young people were most at risk, with 18-24-year-olds the most likely to buy from unknown online sources, the company said. |
| However, Viagogo's findings were criticised by ticketing expert Reg Walker, who has been responsible for anti-counterfeiting operations at a number of major events. "Ticket fraud over the past 12 months has declined," said Walker, who is operations director of the Iridium Consultancy. | However, Viagogo's findings were criticised by ticketing expert Reg Walker, who has been responsible for anti-counterfeiting operations at a number of major events. "Ticket fraud over the past 12 months has declined," said Walker, who is operations director of the Iridium Consultancy. |
| He added that losses from fraud had fallen dramatically over the past three years, partly as a result of Operation Podium, the Metropolitan Police's dedicated team dealing with serious and organised crime affecting the Olympic and Paralympic Games, which is currently being disbanded. | He added that losses from fraud had fallen dramatically over the past three years, partly as a result of Operation Podium, the Metropolitan Police's dedicated team dealing with serious and organised crime affecting the Olympic and Paralympic Games, which is currently being disbanded. |
| A large part of the team's work was targeting those engaged in ticket crime. Walker said many fraudulent websites had had their online payment facilities switched off, making it harder for them to operate. | A large part of the team's work was targeting those engaged in ticket crime. Walker said many fraudulent websites had had their online payment facilities switched off, making it harder for them to operate. |
| He also claimed the so-called secondary ticket market was part of the problem, adding: "We regularly see invalid tickets sold through Viagogo." | He also claimed the so-called secondary ticket market was part of the problem, adding: "We regularly see invalid tickets sold through Viagogo." |
| In November 2012 it was reported by the BBC and others that between 100 and 200 people were turned away from a Mumford & Sons gig in Portsmouth after being found to have fake tickets. Some had bought them on Viagogo, though the company said: "It is our mission to protect customers – that's why we have a guarantee, and every customer that had a problem was fully refunded. In this case, we also decided to offer them tickets to another Mumford & Sons gig with our compliments, or a voucher to the same value." | In November 2012 it was reported by the BBC and others that between 100 and 200 people were turned away from a Mumford & Sons gig in Portsmouth after being found to have fake tickets. Some had bought them on Viagogo, though the company said: "It is our mission to protect customers – that's why we have a guarantee, and every customer that had a problem was fully refunded. In this case, we also decided to offer them tickets to another Mumford & Sons gig with our compliments, or a voucher to the same value." |
| Viagogo has also been at the centre of other controversies. It raised eyebrows when it moved its headquarters from London to Geneva in March 2012, and in November 2012, following a supreme court ruling, the company was ordered to hand over to the Rugby Football Union the names and addresses of people who sold-on tickets to England rugby matches via its website. | Viagogo has also been at the centre of other controversies. It raised eyebrows when it moved its headquarters from London to Geneva in March 2012, and in November 2012, following a supreme court ruling, the company was ordered to hand over to the Rugby Football Union the names and addresses of people who sold-on tickets to England rugby matches via its website. |
| However, the company said the HQ move "reflects our growing international presence", and its verdict on the court ruling was: "This will not happen again … Our data protection is now better." | However, the company said the HQ move "reflects our growing international presence", and its verdict on the court ruling was: "This will not happen again … Our data protection is now better." |
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