You might think you’re pretty good at spotting a scam – I did. Flat-hunting in Facebook groups? It’s obvious which too-goodto-be-true apartments are not legit. Tickets to long-sold-out gigs magically available at face value on X? Sure, Jan. Text messages claiming to be Evri with an unexpected parcel? Seen that before. I thought I was sooo savvy, quietly going “Nope!” as I deleted them and thinking oof, ima ne being caught out like that.
And then I got a message from James.
James* is someone I know vaguely and see maybe once a year. He’s my dad’s partner’s son and lives near them in the Midlands. Occasionally, he’ll message me on Facebook Messenger to say “Merry Christmas!” and I’ll say “You too!” – then we won’t speak again for months and months. So it was unusual to get a Facebook message from him, but not outlandish.
James had managed to get some Coldplay tickets for next year but couldn’t make the show any more. Did I know anyone looking for some? It made sense for him to ask me – I live in London, I write about music, I’m often at gigs and, in a world of cynics, I have a soft spot for Coldplay. Plus, I love brokering tickets between friends. It makes me feel really good to help someone get into a show they really want to go to. “Ooh, I think I do know some people who tried and didn’t get any!” I wrote back, already thrilled at the idea of helping out. “Let me ask around.”
I put James in touch with my friend Mike*, whose mum hadn’t managed to get tickets. Over the next few hours, I was vaguely aware that Mike was sending £240 to a “business bank account” and that James’s friend who owned the account had an interesting name with suggestive connotations – “Charley White” – but mostly I ignored the chat and went about my day with the warm, smug glow of someone who’s done a good thing.
Denne historien er fra October 23, 2024-utgaven av The Independent.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent ? Logg på
Denne historien er fra October 23, 2024-utgaven av The Independent.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
Fernandes saves ponderous United with extra-time goal
A stray punch got the battle of Britain going, but it took the right boot of Bruno Fernandes to decide it.
Keys overcomes Swiatek power in semi-final thriller
Tennis has seen its fair share of mesmerising performances.
RFU chief executive vows to stay despite bonus row
A defiant Bill Sweeney has vowed to continue as chief executive of England's Rugby Football Union (RFU) until the 2027 Rugby World Cup, even as he faces a revolt within the game over his tenure.
Canelo vs Crawford is the super fight with a twist
Mexican idol and US star set for September meet as fight fixer Turki Alalshikh strikes again,
Consumer confidence in economy falls to new low’
Consumer expectations for the economy have plunged as the government faces continued pressure over public finances.
SLAVE TO THE BEAT
On 'Eusexua', her defiantly weird paean to the Prague rave scene, FKA twigs bends vital new electronic shapes, writes Helen Brown, while rapper Central Cee's debut delivers
Think kink: the distinctions between BDSM and abuse
Olivia Petter talks to sex educators about what differentiates a consensual sexual practice from abusive behaviour, and why it's so crucial for partners to understand these polarities
Air pollution crisis in focus ahead of Delhi's election
Toxic air in India’s capital, population more than 33 million, has become a key political issue,
Lost Tina Turner track casts light on her return to fame
A surprise treasure has been unearthed from Tina Turner's vaults: the previously unheard track \"Hot for You, Baby\", which was intended for use on her fifth solo album, Private Dancer.
Could Britain really join a European customs union?
Europe's new trade official responsible for post-Brexit negotiations has said a \"pan-European [customs] area\" is something the EU could consider as part of \"resetting\" relations between the UK post-Brexit and the EU.
