As tickets to the Olympics go on sale, you need to be on your guard against fake websites.
With tickets for the 2012 London Olympics now on sale, those who hope to watch one of the many events are being warned to keep an eye out for fake tickets and dodgy websites.
Some 6.6 million tickets are up for grabs at the start of the 40-day ballot, but at the same time, the number of fake sites is on the rise – and there are concerns that those seeking tickets for in-demand sports such as athletics and swimming are especially at risk of falling victim.
“Although the London 2012 Olympic Games is an exciting event, it presents a gold opportunity for fraudsters,” warns Michael Norton, managing director of PayPoint.net. “We expect the number of online ticket scams to go through the roof, and the worry is that consumers can be too keen to part with their money when they want something badly.”
Clamp down on touting
The Metropolitan Police is monitoring suspects who have previously offered fake or non-existent tickets to events including the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver, and top music gigs.
The organisers have also bought up hundreds of related internet domain names and closed down bogus sites as a preventative measure.
Protect yourself
But while those in charge are doing all they can to prevent unsuspecting fans from being duped, you need to be alert if you’re in the market for any Olympic tickets.
There are plenty of simple steps you can take to ensure your tickets are purchased legitimately – and to avoid disappointment.
First off, you need to check the website you are buying tickets from is authorised; an official website checker on the London 2012 website will allow you to verify the authenticity of companies offering tickets.
Do your research
Ensure the website you are buying the ticket from is reputable and if you are unsure use search engines to find discussions about the site or company selling the ticket.
“Research the cost of the ticket,” says Norton. “Generally, if the price of the ticket seems far too low or too high, you may be at risk of a scam.”
Don’t be lulled into a false sense of security by a well-designed website or easy instructions, he adds.
“Fraudulent ticketing websites have been in operation for many years now, and new ones open all the time with increasingly sophisticated shopping experiences,” he says.
Be wary
Don’t buy tickets for which the delivery date is either different from the official distribution policy on the London 2012 site, or if it is unknown or extremely close to the event you wish to attend.
“Be prepared to verify the exact date by which you will have the tickets,” says Norton. “And, if the quality or location of the tickets appears unusually specific or too good to be true, it usually is. Touts will frequently try to secure overpriced sales by promising to guarantee front row tickets.”
Purchasing tickets
Only buy from sites that are based in the UK. if you buy from an international site it’s more difficult to spot and monitor fraud – and you have far less recourse to take action because you don’t have the support of UK bodies such as Trading Standards.
If possible, make your ticket purchase with a credit card, as this offers an extra level of consumer protection against fraudulent transactions.
Ensure you print out all details, including the terms of your ticket purchase, full contact information for the ticket seller, and any published criteria about ticket location and likely delivery date.
Reselling tickets
In a further bid to crack down on illegal ticket touting, unlicensed reselling of Olympic tickets is illegal.
Only a small number of companies will be allowed to resell tickets, and only at face value.
Registering interest
If you want to register interest for Olympics 2012 tickets you have from now until 26 April to do so through the internet and by post.
You simply need to fill out your ticket preferences and submit Visa credit or debit card details.
If you are successful, the money will be taken from your account, and you will be notified which tickets you have purchased.
If you are concerned about a website, you can report it to the Serious Organised Crimes Office by emailing: brandprotection@london2012.com.
