Laois gardaí issue warning over fake tickets for major summer events

Laois' Crime Prevention Officer has issued advice to the public about fake tickets ahead of major summer events. 

Gardaí are warning that there is no guarantee that tickets bought from unauthorised sources will be valid, and may see them turned away from an event on the day. 

Crime Prevention Officer Sergeant Graham Kavanagh said: "Remember: Always - Check with concert and event promoters for details of authorised ticket sources and outlets. Only - Purchase tickets from authorised sources and outlets. 

"Stick to official retailers: It's always best to buy from official websites. In the event of a sell-out, some artists and promoters partner with resale sites , which only allows tickets to be resold at face value or below. Other resale websites exist, but most aren't affiliated with artists and allow resellers to charge whatever they want. 

"Only enter official competitions: You should only enter ticket competitions advertised by legitimate brands on their official channels and websites. You can use "who.is" to check when a website was created. A newly created website can be a red flag. 

"Be alert to scammers on social media: Buying tickets from strangers on social media can leave you open to being scammed. In particular, you should watch out for newly set-up profiles that follow no one or have no followers. These accounts may have been opened specifically to scam people looking to buy tickets. You can also use reverse image search to check where profile images originate from. 

"Avoid offers that seem too good to be true: When buying tickets for sold-out events, be wary of prices that seem too cheap, as fraudsters may be using these to lure you in. 

"Don't pay by bank transfer: Fraudsters will sometimes try to get you to make bank transfers or pay in Bitcoin. If you do choose to buy tickets from an individual seller, try to pay using a credit card so you're protected by Section 75. 

"Alternatively, PayPal has its own Buyer."