Fake Tickets Syndicate Causing Headaches at Games According to Crime Intelligence Reports

• Fake tickets at local soccer matches continue to cause a headache for the authorities
• According to crime intelligence, the illegal market is roaring, particularly when it comes to big matches
• Members of the syndicate use a simple method to duplicate real tickets with fake ones, before duping match-goers

A syndicate selling fake match tickets is reportedly making a killing from their activities.

Last week at the Carling Black Label Cup held at Soccer City, around 7 500 fake tickets were on sale outside the venue.

According to a SowetanLIVE report, Stadium Management South Africa CEO Bertie Grobbelaar and a representative from the publication observed scalpers selling these duplicates on the day.

Grobbelaar said after looking at one that was seized:

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“On the face of it, this is a fake. I would need to get my team to verify but when you see the colour of the arrow [branded on the ticket], you can see it’s fake. There were a lot of undercover police officers operating in unmarked vehicles during the Carling Cup (last Saturday). We received information about fake ticket syndicate factories in and around Soweto which are currently being investigated by the SAPS.

"Some people were arrested and some of them got away, especially on the N1. We found people selling fake tickets at various points in and around the stadium even as far back as the off-ramp on the N1. Another issue of concern is we found a lot of people with a lot of original tickets, selling them, that’s a concern as well because you are only entitled to buy 10 tickets.”

The article reported that there were several fake ticket factories around Soweto that were targeting Kaizer Chiefs, Orlando Pirates and Mamelodi Sundowns matches, with music and entertainment events around Gauteng also being aimed at by the criminals.

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Carling Black Label Cup: Spectators warned about nearly 8 000 fake tickets being sold at Soccer City

A full house of around 90 000 people is expected to turn out at Soccer City in Soweto for the Carling Black Label Cup, Sports Brief reported.

This will be the first time that the competition has a four-team format, with Mamelodi Sundowns trying to negotiate past AmaZulu in one semifinal, and Kaizer Chiefs attempting to overcome Orlando Pirates again in the other one.

Unsurprisingly, opportunistic ticket scalpers will look to take advantage, with about 7 500 tickets sold in the vicinity of the stadium precinct confirmed to be fake. Fans have been encouraged to buy tickets from credible outlets in advance, to avoid being cheated.