A mother-of-three from Staffordshire is facing a prison sentence after admitting she defrauded music fans out of thousands of pounds by selling fake tickets for a non-existent Oasis reunion tour.
The Details of the Fraudulent Scheme
Rosie Slater, 32, of Newcastle-under-Lyme, deceived hopeful fans by claiming she could secure highly sought-after VIP executive box seats for speculated Oasis gigs at Wembley Stadium. The court heard that Slater used WhatsApp and chat groups in May to offer the tickets, charging between £130 and £160 for each one.
Her motivation, according to proceedings at North Staffordshire Justice Centre, was a desire 'to be popular'. Through this concert ticket scam, she successfully pocketed approximately £4,000 from multiple victims who believed they were purchasing access to the band's rumoured August shows.
Justice Catches Up with the Scammer
The fraudulent operation unravelled when suspicious customers reported Slater to the authorities. This led to a police investigation and multiple fraud charges being brought against her.
On November 11, Slater appeared at North Staffordshire Justice Centre where she pleaded guilty to 11 counts of fraud by false representation. She was granted bail and is scheduled to be sentenced on April 13 next year.
Police Warning to the Public
Detective Constable David Stubbs of Staffordshire Police, who led the investigation, stated: 'This was a complex case that involved multiple victims and a significant amount of money lost. Slater kept up the pretence enticing more victims and making personal gain whilst causing a financial loss to the victims.'
He also thanked the members of the public who came forward with key evidence. A force spokesperson issued a stark reminder to ticket buyers, urging caution: 'We are reminding the public to be cautious, particularly at this time of year, and to only buy event tickets from reputable, properly registered companies. If an offer seems too good to be true, it is often because it is.'
