Fake ticket epidemic: ‘I’m owed £1,194 for British Lions tickets’

Scores of people have reported being ripped off by a ticket exchange website, leaving them hundreds – and in some cases thousands – of pounds out of pocket.

The issue of ticket fraud is widespread and growing. Almost 22,000 people reported losses totalling more than £21m between 2013 and 2016, according to data from Get Safe Online, the governmentbacked cyber safety initiative. The total number of victims is expected to be far higher. One ticket website, Pro Time Tours, is being investigated for selling overpriced tickets that failed to reach buyers.

Customers have reported that after transferring hundreds of pounds to the firm they have been left with nothing. Hertfordshire police has confirmed it is investigating 32 cases passed on by Action Fraud, the national cyber crime reporting service, regarding Pro Time Tours and alleged ticket et fraud totalling £11,563. The offences s are reported to have occurred between tween Nov 20 2016 and June 21 this year.

Peter Zaffiro is one of many victims who have been ripped off by Pro Time Tours, which lists addresses in Florida and on Greek Street in London on n its website.

Mr Zaffiro, 60, who works for a road management nt service in Bristol, paid £1,194 for five tickets for the British Lions tour of New Zealand in March,March which included a £90 delivery fee. He had problems paying by PayPal and credit card, so, aftera telephone conversation with a Pro Time Tour employee,employee he paid by bank transfer. As the date approached, Mr Zaffiro was told the tickets wouldw be delivered to his accommodation in New Zealand, or that he could pick them up personally fromfro the stadium. But Mr Zaffiro said: “I wasn’t going to fly thousands of miles to New Zealand anda risk no one showingshowin up.” He told the firm to cancel the tickets and give him a refund. He bought replacement tickets, at a higher cost, and flew out to New Zealand on June 21. To date, he still does not have a refund. He said: “I’m not expecting to get my money back. It hurts, but I can bear the cost. Others won’t be able to.”

Louise Barback, 46, was another victim to contact Telegraph Money after buying three Adele concert tickets from Pro Time Tours for £345 in January. Again, her initial credit card payment didn’t work, so she paid by bank transfer.

When the tickets failed to arrive, Ms Barback said she was offered a refund but has yet to receive it.

Both Ms Barback and Mr Zaffiro reported what happened to the police and Action Fraud and informed their banks. Other victims have reported the company to the Better Business Bureau in America, which tries to resolve complaints between consumers and companies.

Action Fraud said it had been working with Hertfordshire police and Trading Standards to get the Pro Time Tours website taken offline since July, when it said it had sufficient evidence to take action.

However, an Action Fraud spokesman said “resistance” from the internet domain provider meant the site remained live long after complaints were first received. The investigation is ongoing. As of August 23, the website appeared to have been suspended.

Pro Time Tours did not respond to Telegraph Money’s requests for comment. The phone number now goes through to a voicemail message saying the firm is being investigated.

One reader paid £345 for Adele tickets