U2 warn fans as bogus concert tickets go online
The group issued the warning following at least one website’s attempts to sell tickets for a U2 concert at Slane Castle this summer.
The band are due to launch their album No Line on the Horizon next month, but the group, with frontman Bono (below), said tour dates have yet to be finalised.
In a statement on U2’s website under the headline Rumours (unfounded), the group said: “Just a note to correct some online information suggesting that tickets are available for U2 shows this summer. No tickets are available and no shows have been announced.
“There are no tour dates for the band at the moment so please don’t get stung buying tickets for shows that don’t exist. You can be sure any future live announcements will be made on U2.com as soon as details are certain.”
The statement was issued after a Norwegian-owned company www.globalticketshop.com this week offered customers tickets to a non-existent U2 gig in Slane Castle.
Castle owner Lord Henry Mountcharles was forced to contact the ticket website and demand it remove the ticket sales.
Gardaí yesterday admitted that fraud officers had been asked to investigate the matter, but no offence had taken place within Ireland, said a spokesperson.
Scott Simon, a marketing official for the website, admitted the company was in the wrong.
“Before we were selling them. Then we got information that U2 were not going on tour. Slane’s owner rang us so we took the tickets down. It was a mistake,” said Mr Simon.
The website claimed no tickets for the advertised dates in July had actually been sold. The company claimed other websites were also offering tickets for non-existent concerts.
Meanwhile, the National Consumer Agency (NCA) is advising consumers to contact the Garda Bureau of Fraud Investigation.
“If you have paid for tickets by credit card, you may be able to secure a refund if your credit card issuer offers a charge-back facility,” said the NCA.
“Consumers should be cautious about buying from new or unknowninternet sites; always check the credentials of a site. In the case of concert tickets, consumers should check the band’s website to make sure the concert is genuine,” a spokesperson said.
