Police are warning the public not to respond to advertisements in national and international media advertising tickets for the London Olympic and Paralympic Games.
The ads just feature a mobile phone number or email address to contact for more information, but there are fears that respondents could fall victim to identity theft.
Detective Superintendent Nick Downing from Operation Podium – the Metropolitan Police’s dedicated team 2012 team – said: “Please do not attempt to buy tickets from adverts such as these as you risk paying over the odds for tickets that may not exist and your personal details may be stolen and used in other crimes.
“The safest way to buy tickets for the Olympic and Paralympic Games is from the London 2012 website. On this site you will find the most up to date information about tickets, future Olympic and Paralympic Games ticket sales and the London 2012 website checker.”
It is illegal to advertise or sell an Olympic or Paralympic Games ticket without the appropriate authorisation from the event organisers LOCOG and carries a fine of up to £20,000 for each offence.
Operation Podium is the Metropolitan Police Service’s to tackle serious and organised economic crime against the Games and is working to disrupt those serious and organised criminals looking to target the Games.
