Electric Picnic boss slams ticket scams as 'disgusting'
Laois Gardaí are investigating alleged Electric Picnic ticket fraud
The Managing Director of Festival Republic, responsible for the running of Electric Picnic, Reading and Leeds music festivals, has slammed ticket scams as ‘disgusting’.
Laois Gardaí are investigating a “significant number” of complaints relating to an alleged online ticket seller based in the county.
It has been reported by The Irish Sun that the amount of money allegedly stolen may be over €100,000.
Although the matter is under investigation, no arrests have been made in connection with the complaints.
Speaking earlier with Midlands 103, Director Mr Melvin Benn slammed ticket scams as ‘disgusting’.
“It’s shocking that people are taking advantage of people by scamming tickets, they are effectively stealing money,” he said.
"They are stealing more than money. They are offering a promise that they are taking away as well, which is disgusting quite frankly,” he said.
Mr Benn recommended that picnickers and those interested in buying tickets ‘listen to Garda advice’.
“Take the Garda advice, it’s absolutely spot on. There is only one place to buy a ticket that you can be certain is an Electric Picnic ticket, which is Ticketmaster,” he said.
The Leinster Express/Laois Live understands that gardai in the Laois/Offaly Division are monitoring reported complaints from other garda divisions about online ticket scams relating to the soldout Electric Picnic Music and Arts Festival.
They urged people to be very careful when buying tickets online and to use recognised official resellers.
Meanwhile, Gardaí have issued a national alert on social media warning people to beware of online ticket sellers.
“We are currently investigating alleged incidents of online fraud (alleged resale of event tickets) that are believed to have occurred in recent weeks.
It is very important that you exert a great degree of caution if attempting to purchase tickets for a sold-out event through any third-party known or otherwise.
Do not trust that the tickets you believe you are purchasing are real. It is likely that they will not materialise and in fact, do not exist. Please do not send money through any app in advance,” Gardaí said.
“If you may have been a victim of online fraud, please report it to us at your local Garda Station in person or by phone, or alternatively call the Freephone Garda Confidential Line: 1800 666 111,” Gardaí added.