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Over the last few months I've noticed a weird and hopefully quite transparent bit of spam where I tweet or facebook about a gig and then someone announces that they have tickets (weirdly usually 3) that they are no able to use, so are attempting to sell. It's nearly always in a similarly worded message and comes from someone with few followers/friends or posts who sometimes lives in a different country and never quite has the feel of someone who'd like my stuff. I do RT ticket swaps of people I think are genuine, but these ones don't ring true, because they aren't true and also the spammers have selected a weird target as nearly all of my gigs have tickets available at the box office.
I am aware they don't really select them and they have some algorithm that seeks out gigs or the words Sold out or selling fast.
Last night I put up a few of the tour gigs on Facebook - one of which is showing as sold out on the venue website (but isn't yet) in Newcastle. This one post got loads ofresponses, all of which were from people saying they had tickets to sell. Usually I would delete immediately, but I thought I'd have some fun and also leave these up as a warning to people not to trust strangers on the internet with your money!
Here's some of the fake nonsense
Claire Jodie said, Is there anyway I can get a refund for tickets to this event? (sad face) Or anyone want to buy them for a discount?pls like my and pm me
I replied Sorry Claire, you actually have to buy some tickets before you can get a refund. Also no refunds. Why are you lying?
India Ellarose who lives in Oakland California said
I've got 3 tickets for sale!! Happy to negotiate price!! Don’t want them to go to waste!! will sell for less than I paid. Trying to recuperate losses. Desperately looking to sell them off thanks
Bit rude to be so desperate
I said "Probably foolish to buy these given you live in California. Oh it's spam. Maybe choose an act whose tickets sell out next time!"
Kathryn Lisa said "Just Incase anyone is on a lookout for tickets , I'm putting up mine for sale.
Not looking to make any extra profit off the tickets, I just want them passed on to another!"
I said "I'll buy them off you KL. Please send me details. No one else buy these ones. They're mine. Bagsied."
Marie Daniaguil said "Selling my 4x tickets"
I unimaginatively replied "No you're not"
Debbie Rubby chanced her imaginary arm with "I’m really trying hard to get rid of my tickets for the past 30 minutes now, Lmk if you need them please"
I said "Probably need to be a bit less impatient and also have some tickets."
Kelly Rolland typed "I got 4 tickets for sale"
I said "Did you blow all your Destiny's Child money?" I am funny.
Jane Brian claimed "I have 3x ticket for sale"
I observed "No you don't"
Janice Mills lied "Hello, we can no longer attend unfortunately so I am putting 4 ticket for sale, anyone looking for should message me. Thanks"
I asked, "Do you promise you won't take their money and then not give them any tickets?"
Alissa Keiler (these names are so obviously non real people) said " Looking to pass on our tickets as we got mixed up in, not really looking for anything above the original price just want my money back or a lil below face value."
I wondered "How much is your face currently worth? Actually can you remind me how much the tickets cost?"
Gahr Verena asked "Does anyone have any idea if I can get a refund of my ticket or is anyone here interested in buying them got 4 tickets for sell at a discount prices message me if you’re interested in getting them"
I said "I can provide a refund, but you first have to send me a refundable transaction fee of £20."
I also asked if it was possibly a mistake for all the spammers to hit the same post, as between them they were in danger of offering more tickets than there were seats in the venue. But it didn't seem to put them off. The more i engaged, the more of these pretend fuckers turned up. It left me pining for something simple like International Women's Day.
