Squad of scalping officers to hunt down ticket touts

A SQUAD of scalper investigators will be given the power to issue fines, seize tickets from sports fans and work with police in a Victorian crackdown on rip-off merchants.

A crackdown on scalpers will be led by officers with the authority to issue fines and seize tickets from sports fans. Picture: iStock

A SQUAD of scalper investigators will be given the power to issue fines, seize tickets from sports fans and work with police in a Victorian crackdown on rip-off merchants.

The new authorised ticketing officers will attend major events and scour the internet for illegal activity in the wake of new laws aimed at ticket touts introduced in state parliament today.

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The new laws, revealed by the Herald Sun, will make it illegal for tickets to “declared’’ events to be sold for more than 10 per cent above face value.

For the first time, music, cultural and theatre events will also qualify for declared status which makes it illegal for anyone to resell tickets for profit.

Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, ­arriving in Melbourne in 2019, is likely to be off limits to scalpers under the scheme as well as AFL blockbusters such as the Anzac Day clash.

Sports Minister John Eren said the changes were needed to stop Victorians being ripped off by scalpers and ticket touts on secondary resale sites.

“We are the major events capital, we are the sporting and clearly we need to put a stop to these unscrupulous people who are prepared to rip Victorians off,’’ he said.

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“For far too long now they have had their way so it’s time to stop it.’’

Mr Eren, who will have discretion over which major events are given declared status, expected the legislation to pass both houses of Parliament this year and take effect next year.

He said money had been set aside in the State Budget to pay for the authorised officers but the number of inspectors needed was not yet known.

The move to add concerts to the declared list will be music to the ears of fans ripped off by secondary sites.

Tickets to see British singer Ed Sheeran worth $125 were recently advertised for $1600 after his concerts sold out.

Viagogo advertised seats to Adele’s March concert in Melbourne with a face value of $152 for $275 and floor tickets with a retail value of $300 for up to $765.

The ticket officers, to be employed by the Department of Economic Development, Jobs, Transport and Resources, will monitor websites for advertisements or sales in breach of the new Major Events Act.

They will also attend events and assist police.

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