Offers pouring in for ticket scam victims
The generosity of strangers means little Lexi Dailey might get to cheer for the All Blacks at the Rugby World Cup.
Generous offers have come in from all over the world for the 4-year-old girl and her mum after they found out their Rugby World Cup tickets were fake.
Lexi Dailey was set to support the ABs at their first game against Argentina at Wembley Stadium in London alongside mum Gillian Dailey.
The Dannevirke girl was thought to be one of the youngest Kiwi fans heading to England to watch the boys in black.
But overnight, her mum found their tickets to the sold-out game were part of a scam.
After she spoke to Stuff to warn others about the scam, offers have poured in for Dailey and Lexi.
While not everyone can help getting tickets to the New Zealand v Argentina game, people are offering what they have: like tickets to other games, and other experiences.
Dailey had been contacted directly by two radio stations, and Stuff was contacted by four other people who wanted to help in any way they could.
Dailey said the generosity was incredible. ‘‘I mean, it’s just amazing. People have been so generous, and I don’t mind paying for tickets – it’s just the availability.’’
Dailey booked the Argentina game for her and Lexi for because it was during the day, so would not be too late for the 4-year-old.
She would be getting back to the generous people and hoped she and the pre-schooler would be able to go.
‘‘Again it’s just amazing how people are touched by the story.
‘‘It was more the intention to warn people about what goes on out there, and it’s just amazing the sorts of things people are offering.’’
One generous person was Stephen, an expat Kiwi working on yachts in Ibiza.
He saw Lexi’s story and wrote to Stuff, offering to try to buy them tickets to the New Zealand v Argentina game. ‘‘I just wanted to help out the family. I have nieces and nephews the same age so I can understand what it’s like to see them upset.’’
Several people also offered the Daileys tickets to the New Zealand v Georgia match.
Dailey was ‘‘gutted’’ when she realised last night her tickets were a scam.
She ordered tickets to the New Zealand v Argentina game on website www.getsporting.com in January.
She paid $1800 for seven tickets, buying them for her sisters and their husbands as well.
But a week out from flying to Europe, she still had not received them, although tracking on the website still said ‘‘dispatched’’.
She made the grim discovery it was a scam when she phoned the number listed on the website and it was answered with a message from the UK Fraud office.
Despite the scam leaving a bit of a bad taste for Dailey, she said she and Lexi would still enjoy themselves if they did not get tickets.
‘‘We’ll still have a good time, the vibe will still be awesome.’’
On Thursday, Rugby World Cup 2015 issued a warning urging fans to be vigilant to scams.
England Rugby 2015 managing director Stephen Brown advised fans to buy tickets only through official channels.