Fraudulent Festival Ticket sales through Scarlet Mist - a warning

[scarletmist]

Last year we had a number of fraudulent transactions made through Scarlet Mist for Leeds and Reading tickets. The police were involved in investigating some, but the perpetrators have not been locked up in the tower and may attempt the same frauds this year.

Scarlet Mist offers a way for buyers and sellers to trade tickets at face value, and is a free service.

If you use it then please be careful to avoid transactions which could be fraudulent. There are some clues you might get. For example someone selling four tickets well in advance of the festival date is very suspicious. Or someone posting repeatedly, or for multiple festivals.

We have tightened up our security procedures, but fraudulent sellers can be devious and can use different name or email addresses. We will post here the names of any frauds that we are aware of.

We also strongly suggest that you do not send large sums of cash to strangers using post, Paypal or Western Union. Where possible then arrange to meet face-to-face. Where that is not possible then use an escrow service.

I am very sorry that it is necessary to make a posting like this. Fraudulent use of Scarlet Mist has made me seriously consider shutting the site down. If any of you can help nail the bstards that have been committing this fraud then the whole festival community will be grateful.

Richard

Edited March 30, 2009 by scarletmist

[scarletmist]

Lindy Chaffey

In the past 24 hours we have had 12 Reading tickets posted on Scarlet Mist by someone calling themselves Lindy Chaffey using the email address lindy.somersetbranch@publicist.com [publicist.com is a domain offering free email addresses].

I don't know whether Lindy Chaffey is a real person or a pseudonym.

Last year we had a series of complaints about a seller using this name, which I have posted below.

'Purchased' 4 AC/DC tickets from a 'Lindy Chaffey' on Sunday 22/2 for O2 London show on 14/4. No contact from seller after payment sent despite several mails sent. Suspected scam. She posted 2 listings on 22/2 for AC/DC tickets.

--------------

24 Feb 2009

Edited May 6, 2009 by scarletmist

[hanhan]

Thanks for posting this. Its just made me realise that by trying to reclaim the £200 for KOL tickets I paid 'Lindy Chaffey' I'm wasting my time. I think going to the police is the best course of action now, but if anyone has a better idea or has already started proceedings, i'd love to know.

Many thanks

H

[scarletmist]

There have been some attempts over the last 24 hours to entice users of Scarlet Mist to send money by Western Union to :-

Payment must be sent by Western Union Wire Transfer to:

Verified Seller name: KARLA PARKER

Verified Seller address:

24 WALKER TCE WEST HOE, PLYMOUTH, UK PL1 3BN

The emails to the 'victims' appear to come from "scarletmist_aw_confirm@yahoo.c" <scarletmist_aw_confirm@yahoo.com> - Scarlet Mist Support team!

These emails do not originate from Scarlet Mist. If you have used Scarlet Mist and receive an email like this then please take great care.

[Budweiser]

Thanks for the info, will pass it on to my mates.

[KingOfTheRodeo]

I don't think i could ever trust anyone with the name Lindy Chaffey.

[scarletmist]

JOHN CARDNO

Using a new email address of r.models@yahoo.co.uk - JC has posted tickets on Scarlet Mist this afternoon for Reading and Tinthepark and VFestivals.

He is selling 4 tix for each festival.

[Superscally]

Thanks for posting this. Its just made me realise that by trying to reclaim the £200 for KOL tickets I paid 'Lindy Chaffey' I'm wasting my time. I think going to the police is the best course of action now, but if anyone has a better idea or has already started proceedings, i'd love to know.

Many thanks

H

[beLIEveR]

If you've got an address, go there and take something to the value of it.

I'd be very interested to see her try and press charges.

[3_14]

No point dude. I did this last year and was told there was nothing they could do, despite me having an address and bank account details, as they can't get the banks to give them enough details to move on it. Apparently banks are above the law...

[rickt]

There have been some attempts over the last 24 hours to entice users of Scarlet Mist to send money by Western Union to :-

Payment must be sent by Western Union Wire Transfer to:

Verified Seller name: KARLA PARKER

Verified Seller address:

24 WALKER TCE WEST HOE, PLYMOUTH, UK PL1 3BN

The emails to the 'victims' appear to come from "scarletmist_aw_confirm@yahoo.c" <scarletmist_aw_confirm@yahoo.com> - Scarlet Mist Support team!

These emails do not originate from Scarlet Mist. If you have used Scarlet Mist and receive an email like this then please take great care.

Edited July 24, 2009 by rickt

[markeee]

wow, despite people having this ladies bank account details nothing has happened to her? scandalous

[rexclark]

I would suggest this as a fair punnishment

Happiest day of my life.

Edited July 24, 2009 by rexclark81

[thetime]

I would suggest this as a fair punnishment

Happiest day of my life.

[rexclark]

haha i remember that year, want that the year ratm played in the afternoon.

[michaelharg]

Hi!

I've just got (haven't paid for them yet) a couple of tickets for Leeds on Scarlet Mist, the seller is acting a bit dubiuosly on 3 accounts:

1. He says he needs to send the tickets by friday, implying he has them, which I dont think is possible as the tickets haven't been dispatched yet.

2. He's offering them at lower than face value, £150 each.

3. He's also wants me to send half the money upfront and I'll pay the rest when I have the tickets.

Any advice?

Also, I've asked for proof of purchase/scan of tickets, and I can't meet up with him as I'm working offshore Egypt and will get back just before festival.

Thanks

[rexclark]

Hi!

I've just got (haven't paid for them yet) a couple of tickets for Leeds on Scarlet Mist, the seller is acting a bit dubiuosly on 3 accounts:

1. He says he needs to send the tickets by friday, implying he has them, which I dont think is possible as the tickets haven't been dispatched yet.

2. He's offering them at lower than face value, £150 each.

3. He's also wants me to send half the money upfront and I'll pay the rest when I have the tickets.

Any advice?

Also, I've asked for proof of purchase/scan of tickets, and I can't meet up with him as I'm working offshore Egypt and will get back just before festival.

Thanks

[michaelharg]

Sounds quite dubious to be honest. Good luck.

[markeee]

Yeh, I've asked for a scan of the tickets with proof of purchase, and a landline to call him on (can't call him on a mobile anyway, its burns through the phone cards out here). Untill I get them I'm not sending any money.

Going to speak to my bank to see what protection they offer for this kind of thing...

[Dropkick Murphy]

It is possible he has the tickets as he could have got them from HMV (and possibly another record shop in Leeds). But lower than face value is extremely dubious. Just wait to see if he sends the scans, ask him to handwrite his name on a piece of paper with the scanned ticket too so you know its his. To be honest I don't think you'll hear from him now.

Protection from your bank is a dodgy one to be honest. I work for a credit card company and they can't assist in this situation as the bank/credit card will be debited by Scarlet Mist and not the seller. Therefore, as the bank can see no breach of contract from the merchant who debited the account (Scarlet Mist) they won't be able to get your money back. The breach of contract is from the seller.

[michaelharg]

He sent a 100x100pic of the "proof of purchase" that was unreadable and still hadn't provided any of the other details... I've told him I'm not intersted and reported him to Scarlet Mist.

I'll probably start looking again once the tickets are being dispatched... I'm hoping I don't have to use EBay or Viagogo.

Thanks!

[markeee]

He sent a 100x100pic of the "proof of purchase" that was unreadable and still hadn't provided any of the other details... I've told him I'm not intersted and reported him to Scarlet Mist.

I'll probably start looking again once the tickets are being dispatched... I'm hoping I don't have to use EBay or Viagogo.

Thanks!

[springford]

JOHN CARDNO

Using a new email address of r.models@yahoo.co.uk - JC has posted tickets on Scarlet Mist this afternoon for Reading and Tinthepark and VFestivals.

He is selling 4 tix for each festival.