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Industry kitemark launched as unscrupulous ticket fraudsters prey
on Brits.
ONE in 10 people have been affected by ticket fraud in the UK.
Research carried out by STAR, the Society of Ticket Agencies and Retailers,
reveals that one of the reasons the number of victims is worryingly high is that
ticket buyers seem unaware of what measures they can take to protect themselves.
People splashing out to see their favourite performers are often putting
themselves at risk - one in 10 say they would buy from a website if it "looks
genuine", and another 10 per cent stated that they have never even considered
checking the ticket outlet's authenticity.
The figures are revealed as STAR launches a new kitemark that identifies
reputable ticket outlets that adhere to the self-regulatory body's code of
conduct and are authorised to sell tickets by event organisers.
The instantly recognisable kitemark should help to bring about a crackdown on
ticket fraudsters who claim more than half a million British victims every year.
The government's National Fraud Authority estimates that the cost of online
ticket fraud alone is a staggering £168million a year.
While some consumers are web-savvy - 64 per cent of respondents to the national
survey said they would only buy from a ticket outlet they'd use before - others
often take chances with their hard-earned cash, with more than half of those
surveyed claiming they would risk paying much more than the face value of the
ticket to attend their dream event.
The consequences of buying a fraudulent ticket can be devastating for the buyer;
some don't receive their tickets while others are turned away at the doors of
the venue having paid for transport and parking, facing an embarrassing walk
away from the event in front of crowds of other fans. And then of course there
is the possibility that payment details have been left in the hands of
unscrupulous criminals.
Those who have purchased fake tickets or experienced other problems with
fraudulent sales will often have nowhere to turn to when things go wrong.
By purchasing tickets from outlets that display the STAR kitemark, either online
or at the point of sale, consumers can be confident that the company is
authorised to sell tickets and has signed up to the STAR code of practice, which
assures high standards of service. The body also offers a dispute resolution
service for consumers, in the unlikely event of problems encountered with its
members.
"It is the show of strength that the entertainment ticketing industry has been
waiting for," said Jonathan Brown, Secretary of STAR. "Ticket fraud is an
industry-wide problem and we needed an industry-wide solution to tackle it head
on.
"By introducing a ticketing industry kitemark, much like the trusted ABTA symbol
consumers see when they book with reputable holiday companies, we can give the
buyer confidence that they are getting the genuine article. By giving the
ticket-buying public these assurances, we can all work together to help to
reduce incidences of ticket fraud and the opportunities for those who
unscrupulously prey on such an alarmingly high number of innocent people."
The kitemark is supported by major entertainment organisations such as the
Concert Promoters Association, the National Arenas Association and The Society
of London Theatre.
STAR was formed in 1997 to establish high standards of service across the
industry and offer advice to the public about buying genuine tickets safely.
STAR has worked with the Office of Fair Trading to establish model terms and
conditions for the sale of tickets, and it works with other bodies, such as the
Police and the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, to set industry
standards.
"Consumer confidence is vital to the future of the industry," Mr Brown added.
"By educating ticket buyers to choose authorised ticket sellers that operate
under the STAR kitemark, we can help to significantly reduce ticket fraud and
the damaging effect it has on the industry, as well as the potentially
devastating consequences for consumers."
The research also showed that men are more likely to take risks with potentially
dodgy dealers than women. Nearly twice as many men than women would consider
trading with a ticket tout on the day of the event and more than 10 per cent of
men would pay more than £100 over the ticket cost to see their dream event,
compared to only seven per cent of female respondents.
Nearly 12 per cent of men have been affected by ticket fraud, compared to nine
per cent of women.
For more information about STAR and advice on buying genuine tickets, visit
www.star.org.uk. The website also lists all
STAR members, which include major companies such as See Tickets, Ticketmaster
and The Ticket Factory and many others. STAR members represent more than 90 per
cent of tickets sold by authorised ticket sellers for entertainment events in
the UK.
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