Six people involved in the Xclusive companies promotion of on-line sport and concert tickets have been charged today. This follows hundreds of complaints by ticket buyers alleging no tickets were delivered and no refunds given. The defendants are to appear at Camberwell Magistrates Court on 15 October 2009.
Background
The Serious Fraud Office together with the Metropolitan Police (Southwark CID) started investigating Xclusive Tickets Limited, Xclusive Leisure & Hospitality Limited and related companies in September 2008. Both of the Xclusive companies had entered liquidation that month. The investigation arose following a referral from Companies Investigation Branch ("CIB") which carries out investigations on behalf of the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills (see www.insolvency.gov.uk/CIB). The Xclusive companies sold tickets online for a wide variety of events including the Beijing Olympics and various summer music festivals in the UK. A large number of these tickets were not supplied and many customers did not obtain refunds. The companies are also suspected of illegally selling UK football tickets. The total value of tickets not supplied is in excess of £5 million. Additionally, many ticket buyers had arranged, and paid for, travel and accommodation to attend events; costs that unfortunately added to their loss.
Defendants
The six defendants are Terence Shepherd (51), Allan Schaverien (65), Alan Scott (55), Cyril Gold (67), Geert van Meel (52) and Margaret Canty-Shepherd (49). They have been charged as follows:
Fraudulent trading in respect of the operation of the Xclusive companies:
Terence Shepherd, Allan Schaverien, Alan Scott and Cyril Gold
Fraud Act offences in respect of unauthorised sale of football tickets by the Xclusive companies:
Terence Shepherd and Alan Scott.
Fraud Act offences in respect of unauthorised sale of football tickets by the Online Ticket Exchange Ltd:
Terence Shepherd and Geert van Meel.
Money laundering:
Terence Shepherd and Margaret Canty-Shepherd.
Breach of a Directors Disqualification Order;
Terence Shepherd
All those charged were released on unconditional bail pending a first hearing at Camberwell Magistrates Court scheduled for 15 October 2009.
Guidance to buyers
Customers of the Xclusive companies who did not receive their tickets and are willing to assist the SFO's enquiry are invited to fill in the questionnaire at the following link https://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=PmRPHmiBdIZ3atZUIzJr_2bg_3d_3d. Anyone who has already provided a statement on this matter to the Metropolitan Police or the SFO need not complete the questionnaire. The SFO would like to thank all of our witnesses and the 587 people who have filled in the questionnaire to date.
If buyers think they may have been a victim of a ticket fraud that does not relate to the Xclusive companies, this can reported to Consumer Direct, a telephone and online consumer advice service operated by the Office of Fair Trading in conjunction with Local Authority Trading Standards Services. The reports can be made by filling in the online form at https://secure.consumerdirect.gov.uk/reportascam.aspx or by calling +44 8454 04 05 06
Although the vast majority of online ticket sales websites are bona fide, the SFO recommends that the public should exercise vigilance when buying online and in particular advises that:-
1) In England & Wales,
the sale of match tickets to FA Premier League, Football League, FA
Cup, Football League Cup, FA Conference, UEFA club matches and FIFA
international matches is a criminal offence under section 166 of
the Criminal Justice & Public Order Act 1994 (as amended by
section 53 of the Violent Crime Reduction Act 2006) unless the
seller is properly authorised by the clubs, leagues, venues or
associations to sell tickets. Before buying a ticket online, on the
phone or in person from an agency, the SFO would recommend that
buyers check with the club or venue that the ticket agency has been
authorised to sell the tickets. Buying from unauthorised sources
puts the public at risk through the break down of supporter
segregation and there is no guarantee that tickets supplied will
not be forgeries.
2) Whilst the secondary sale of
non football tickets is not illegal, the terms of the issue of such
tickets often prohibit the transfer of such tickets for profit. It
is possible that tickets sold in such a manner through unauthorised
agencies could be cancelled by the venue or promoter or could even
be forgeries. The SFO would advise that purchasers of non football
tickets check with the venue or promoter as to whether the ticket
agency is authorised to sell the tickets.
3) When buying from an online source it is worth doing an internet search on the name of the ticket agency or the website. There are many bulletin boards commenting on the services offered by such agencies or websites. Whilst the accuracy of such comments cannot be verified, they are a useful source of intelligence to identify companies which may have a poor record of supplying tickets and not offering refunds.
Advice on buying online can also be found at http://www.star.org.uk/consumeradvice/buyingonline.aspx
Serious Fraud Office, Elm House, 10-16 Elm Street, London, WC1X 0BJ
Press Office tel: 020 7239 7001/7045/7000/7004 or mobile: 0781 807 6688
Main switchboard tel: 020 7239 7272
press.office@sfo.gsi.gov.uk - or via - www.sfo.gov.uk
