Champions League scammer made £50k selling fake tickets

Kirkby: So, there’s this guy, Lee Waldron, who really took advantage of football fans. He made almost £50,000 by selling fake tickets for the Champions League final in Paris. Can you believe that?

Waldron sent out counterfeit PDF tickets to about 20 people who were just excited to see Liverpool play Real Madrid. They thought they were all set for the big match, only to find out they’d been duped.

The police got involved after victims reported the scam to Action Fraud. Turns out, Waldron had even roped in another guy, David Windsor, to help him set up a bank account for the scam. Windsor thought he was just getting a ticket and a flight in return.

Last January, Waldron was sentenced to 21 months in jail for his crimes. His buddy, Andrew Dickenson, had already pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit fraud and got 18 months.

Detective Chief Inspector Chris Maddocks from the NWROCU’s Economic Crime Unit said the impact on the victims was huge. He stressed the importance of buying tickets from trusted sources.

He also shared some tips for fans to avoid getting scammed. Always research where you’re buying tickets from, be cautious of people selling tickets outside venues, and check for secure payment methods.

If you ever fall victim to ticket fraud, you can report it online or call Action Fraud. It’s crucial to stay alert and protect yourself from these scams.