Champions League Scammer Rakes in Nearly £40k Selling Fake Tickets
A man has been sentenced for scamming fans with counterfeit tickets for the Liverpool vs Real Madrid match, causing significant financial loss.
Liverpool, Real Madrid, Champions League, Ticket Fraud, Lee Waldron, David Windsor
Kirkby: A guy named Lee Waldron just got locked up for scamming fans out of nearly £40,000 with fake Champions League tickets. He tricked around 20 people, sending them counterfeit PDF tickets instead of the real deal.
Detectives from the North West Regional Organised Crime Unit jumped in after victims reported the scam to Action Fraud. These fans were super excited to catch the Liverpool vs Real Madrid match in Paris back in May 2022, only to find out their tickets were worthless.
Waldron, who’s 41 and lives on Norbury Road in Kirkby, got a 21-month sentence at Liverpool Crown Court after being found guilty of dealing with criminal property. His buddy, David Windsor, also got in trouble and pleaded guilty to fraud earlier this year, receiving the same sentence.
Detective Chief Inspector Chris Maddocks from the Economic Crime Unit said the impact on the victims was huge. He stressed how important it is to buy tickets from trustworthy sources. He also shared some tips to help fans avoid getting scammed.
He advised folks to research ticket sites, be cautious of people selling tickets outside venues, and check for any odd changes in website URLs. Using secure payment methods and booking through official sellers is key to staying safe.
DCI Maddocks reminded everyone to stay alert and report any ticket fraud online or by calling Action Fraud. If you know anything about ticket fraud, you can also reach out to Crimestoppers anonymously.