New victims of the ticket scam by fake UK website, Magnitude Events, are coming forward every day, say Sussex Police, who are investigating the crime. The number of calls logged from people who have lost money through buying fake tickets for performers such as JLS, Chris Rea and the X-Factor stars, now stands at 400, and police believe the true number is much higher.

The Magnitude Events Website, now down and disabled, took money from scores of ticket purchasers but did not supply tickets. It then vanished from the Net. Police traced the business to an address in Hastings, Sussex, and are actively seeking a local man, 42-year-old Raymond Fitzgerald, who is registered as the director of the company. Police believe Fitzgerald may be the fall guy for a much larger operation but, so far, have little evidence to support the theory. 

Detective Sergeant Julie Gable of Sussex Police is encouraging any new victims to contact her, so that police can establish the full extent of the fraud.  Many of the concerts advertised on the fake website were for dates in February, March and beyond so there is concern that there are many people as yet unaware that they’ve been conned.

Tragically, many of the victims are children, and teenagers, fans of boy-band JLS:  

Parent Suzanne Altinkeser paid £205 to Magnitude Events for two front row tickets so that her 15-year-old disabled daughter could see her favourite boy band, JLS. Speaking in Wigan’s Evening Post today, she said:

"At first, I thought the website was real because it was a link from Ticketmaster. I didn't buy the tickets from that website because I couldn't choose to sit at the front and I didn't want Danielle to be stuck at the back as she is deaf, so I bought them from Magnitude."

Ticketmaster have denied that there were any links to Magnitude Events, or any other ticketing agent, on their site.

Another mother, Natalie, bought 8 tickets for her son and his friends to see JLS in Brighton. She posted on EU Ticket News Comments:

“How do you tell a 4-year old fan they’re now not going? He’s been asking how many sleeps until we go mummy? Now I’m lost for words. There’s no compensation for how much money we have all lost and the heartache these scum bags have caused.”

JLS manager, Phil McCaughton told EU Ticket News:

“We are very aware of this issue. I have been speaking to Sussex Police who have set up Operation Magnitude to deal specifically with this case. We always encourage fans to buy tickets through official outlets, links to which can be found on the boys official website.”

But despite the best efforts of the police, it’s unlikely that fans or parents will be compensated for their loss. According to Detective Sergeant Gable:

“To be honest, it’s unlikely they’ll get their money back. We’re doing our best to find the man but when we find him, it’s dependant on his situation and whether he’s able to return the money. The banks don’t seem to want to pay anything back.”

To contact Sussex Police, please call 08456070999 quote serial 256 of 09/01/2010 or email  julie.gable@sussex.pnn.police.uk This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

For information about how to order tickets safely on the internet, visit: http://www.euticketnews.com/20100202280/ticket-fraud-sites-uncovered-scam-and-ticketing-swindle-revealed.html

For more on the story: http://www.euticketnews.com/20100127246/magnitude-events-fake-uk-ticketing-site-rips-off-fans.html

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leeanne percy /stacey flynn said:

jls concert Febuary 2010 my daughter and her friend bought tickets on nov2009 for the jls concert in febuary2010 and payed £105 for them they are very dissapointed as they saved up all their money to pay for these tickets and then found out it was all a scam after paying, but the fact is they asked natwest bank (glasgow) if it was a legitament reliable company before handing over money and they where told it was, and the bank is not helping at all .

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