Dodgy scalpers cashing in on desperate Taylor Swift fans over sold-out shows

Scammers preying on Taylor Swift fans desperate to see her sold-out shows at the MCG are illegally selling seats for up to five times their face value.

Scalpers preying on Taylor Swift fans desperate to see her sold-out MCG shows are illegally selling seats for up to five times their face value.

New figures obtained by the Herald Sun reveal authorities have cancelled at least 54 dodgy ticket listings to Swift’s three Melbourne concerts because scalpers were trying to sell them at hugely inflated prices.

They include seats to the “Shake it Off” songstress’s February 16 show with a face value of $239 being advertised for $1275 each, in breach of strict state laws.

Major Events Minister Steve Dimopoulos said the message to scalpers was clear: “don’t sell tickets to major events at inflated prices, otherwise you risk being fined”.

“We encourage every Taylor Swift fan in Victoria to buy tickets from a reputable seller, to ensure everyone can get a ticket for a fair price,’’ he said.

Illegal tickets for sold-out Taylor Swift shows have been removed from a range of websites. Picture: Getty Images

It is illegal to sell tickets to “declared” major events, such as Swift’s Era’s Tour, for more than 10 per cent in Victoria, with fines of up to $962 for individuals and more than $576,930 for companies in breach.

But it has not stopped scalpers trying to cash in at the expense of “Swifties’’, with illegal tickets removed from websites such as Gumtree, eBay, Stubhub, Ticombo, Ticketbande, Ticket Network and Dynasty Tickets by state government inspectors.

Ticket touts trying to flog seats worth $309 to her February 18 concert for $1250 were also pulled from sale.

There have been at least 27 illegal tickets to Swift’s opening Melbourne show on February 16 pulled from sale on secondary sites.

Anti-scalper inspectors busted at least 21 illegal tickets advertised for Taylor Swift’s February 17 concert. Picture: AP

Anti-scalper inspectors busted at least 21 illegal tickets advertised for the February 17 concert, including some worth $239 being sold for $450 each.

And at least six seats to the February 18 show were cancelled, including $309 tickets being flogged for $1250 each.

The Swift scalping scam comes after ticket touts also tried to rip off footy fans desperate to attend Collingwood’s classic AFL Grand Final victory over Brisbane.

There were 27 tickets removed from secondary ticketing platforms for the Grand Final, including one with a face value of $448 advertised for $2000.

There were 11 penalty infringement notices issued to scalpers trying to sell dodgy tickets to AFL finals in Victoria and 251 illegal online listings voided.

“Every finals match that was played in our state was protected by our strict ticket scalping laws to ensure footy fans pay a fair price for tickets to AFL finals matches in Victoria,’’ Mr Dimopoulos said.