Reading, Leeds issue ticket scam warning

Reading and Leeds Festival chief Melvin Benn has issued a warning to fans about the expected increase in fake tickets for this year's event.

Benn chaired a conference aiming to wipe out crime in live music in January, and has since told NME that the methods employed by touts to scam gig-goers are becoming more elaborate.

"The crooks are getting better," Benn claimed. Reg Walker from festival security firm The Iridium Consultancy labelled the touts' latest techniques as "particularly nasty", explaining how they try to swindle fans.

"This is extremely clever, organised crime. It isn't just a few Arthur Daley spivs outside a venue," Walker said. "They produce counterfeit wristbands and have touts outside the venues knowing that they're going to get several hundred people [who unwittingly bought fake tickets online] turning up who won't get in, but who are going to be looking for a way to get in. So then they have a second bite of the cherry."

Benn went on to say that he is hoping to persuade every major festival in the UK to implement electronic scanning systems for "barcoded" wristbands by 2013, in a bid to fight the fakes.

Chief superintendent Andy Battle, police commander for Leeds Festival 2010, said that authorities will be "proactively looking for touts" at the event.

> Fake wristbands threaten 2010 festivals