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>>Global scam targeting music fans unearthed on listings site >> Tickets being flogged that have never been purchased

- MARK MCGIVERN

SCOTS music fans are being targeted in massive ticket scams on tout site Viagogo, which is allowing thousands of briefs to be sold by international con artists.

The Daily Record has evidence of a potential fraud that seeks to rip off fans of Scots act Travis and other big shows at the OVO Hydro in Glasgow such as Premier League Darts, Peter Kay and Disney on Ice.

Touts registered in Ukraine. Germany, Slovakia and America are using Viagogo for "spec selling" - meaning they're flogging tickets they don't possess - for Hydro shows.

The touts are listing tickets for more than double face value, meaning they pocket the extra cash and Viagogo nets a hefty, inflated commission for every customer duped into buying on the site.

The tickets we have found are almost all still available on the primary sales site, Ticketmaster, at face value.

But many music fans fall into the trap because Viagogo pays Google to be top of their advert listings, ahead of Ticketmaster, leading some to believe it's the official seller.

Adam Webb, of campaign group FanFair Alliance, said: "It's a complete scam.

"What our investigation demonstrates is that a substantial number of tickets being touted for profit on Viagogo have never been bought in the first place.

"They are encouraging these sellers to rip off audiences for the Hydro and other big UK venues by illegally listing tens of thousands of tickets in this way.

"If this was happening on the high street, a business like Viagogo would've been shut down yesterday."

Webb said he was stunned at the brazen refusal of Viagogo to take down the rogue listings-particularly as the Labour Government is expected to soon announce a new consultation on UK ticketing reform.