Gig ticket touts made £6.5m from music lovers, court hears

Two individuals deny fraudulent trading of 47,000 event tickets, making £6.5m from music fans over a period of more than two years, as revealed in court hearings.

Two people deny fraudulent trading of 47,000 event tickets over more than two years.

A court heard that a ticket tout company, TQ Tickets Ltd, allegedly motivated by “greed and dishonesty,” exploited music lovers by fraudulently obtaining over £6.5 million. Prosecutors claim that the firm employed multiple identities to purchase tickets for popular artists like Ed Sheeran and Little Mix, subsequently reselling them on secondary ticket platforms. Mark Woods, 59, and Lynda Chenery, 51, both from Dickleburgh, Norfolk, are facing three charges of fraudulent trading, which they deny.

Jonathan Sandiford KC, the prosecutor at Leeds Crown Court, stated that the company had managed to sell approximately £6.5 million worth of tickets between June 2015 and December 2017 through platforms like Viagogo.

During this timeframe, the company acquired 47,000 tickets using 127 different names and 187 unique email addresses, Sandiford revealed.

“This case revolves around avarice and deceit. The two individuals on trial were involved in ticket scalping,” he explained.

“They were participants in an unscrupulous scheme that, spanning several years, took advantage of the fervor and devotion shared by many towards their favorite pop bands and artists, including figures like Ed Sheeran and others.”

During the trial, the jury learned that the company engaged in speculative listing of tickets, often leading to fans being denied entry to venues. The prosecutor detailed how the firm, utilizing various staff members, including “corrupted” students, submitted multiple ticket applications using fictional identities and various bank and debit cards.

The prosecutor, Mr. Sandiford, described deceptive practices such as “doing a fraudie,” where customers were sent ripped envelopes to imply lost-in-transit tickets, and “using fraud juice,” involving correcting fluid or sophisticated digital methods to alter tickets.

Originally established as a coach company, the firm maintained a “veneer” of legitimacy, which, according to Mr. Sandiford, was very thin and easily exposed as a dishonest business upon closer inspection.

The court was informed that the partners of the defendants, Maria Chenery-Woods (self-styled Ticket Queen) and Paul Douglas (self-proclaimed Ticket Boy), had already pleaded guilty to fraudulent trading. While Chenery-Woods was identified as the “driving force,” Mr. Sandiford asserted that both accused individuals were integral to the “dishonest enterprise.”

In a revealing message, Douglas conveyed to Chenery-Woods that the business’s purpose was to “simply rinse consumers for as much profit as they are willing to pay.” Mr. Sandiford emphasized that there was “no dispute that the fraudulent scheme exists.” It was also disclosed that Chenery is the sister of Chenery-Woods.

It’s a glaring reminder of the challenges faced by genuine music lovers when trying to score tickets to their favorite shows. The thrill of scoring a ticket should be accessible to everyone, not just those with deep pockets or who are quick on the trigger. In this blog post, we’ll delve into the shady world of ticket touts, explore the impact on music fans, and most importantly, share tips on how to protect yourself from falling victim to ticket scams. So stay tuned, and let’s work together to keep the music scene fair and accessible for all!