On Tuesday 24th November, the Society of Ticket Agents and Retailers (STAR) is leading an awareness campaign aiming to reduce ticket fraud for entertainment and sports events by encouraging customers to look for the STAR mark when buying tickets.
This mark is used by members of STAR who sign up to a strict Code of Practice, which requires high levels of service, information and protection, and guarantees that the ticket is from a reliable source. Buying from a STAR member offers the same sort of reassurance you get when buying a holiday through an ABTA or ATOL registered travel agent. STAR members can be identified by the STAR mark and through the STAR website (www.star.org.uk).
The #lookfortheSTAR campaign is gathering support from individuals and organisations right across the British entertainment industry, including the Concert Promoters Association (CPA), National Arenas Association (NAA) and Society of London Theatre. The campaign is also being supported by Metropolitan Police, City of London Police and Action Fraud.
In June alone this year Action Fraud announced receiving 533 reports of ticket fraud relating to gigs, concerts and sporting events; and if we are going to reduce this, we need to get the message to as many people as possible across the country. As well as this Thunderclap, the websites of the UK's leading ticketing agents, as well as theatre and concert venues across the country will stage 'home page takeovers' on the day to raise awareness of the mark.
We need as much help as possible with this campaign, so if you would like to find out how to get more involved please click here!
STAR (Society of Ticket Agents and Retailers) is the self-regulatory body for the entertainment ticket industry.
