Police and organisers are pleading with festival-goers not to be duped into buying worthless tickets for this year’s Belladrum Tartan Heart Festival.
Scammers are using auction sites and social media to try to trick customers into shelling out for fake briefs for next month’s event.
There are fears there are already forgeries in circulation and unauthorised sellers are also advertising passes for sale saying they are unwanted e-tickets they want to transfer to someone else’s name.
Organisers have stressed that anyone attempting to enter the venue with fake tickets or is found ins possession of them will be refused entry and may be reported to the police.
Festival director Joe Gibbs said: “We are always deeply disappointed to hear of incidents where people have been sold non-genuine tickets, though unfortunately with the nature of a sell-out event there always seems to be a small number of people who are looking to profit from the increased demand for tickets through such ticketing scams.
“We have always advised Bella fans to only purchase tickets through official outlets and every year we provide the option where any unwanted genuine tickets can be returned and re-sold.
“We also monitor social media accounts and block any suspicious ticket resale activity and inform the police of such incidents.”
The festival will be held at Beauly in Inverness-shire from August 6-8.
Inverness councillor Donnie Kerr said last night said he was “surprised and disappointed” some fans could be conned in to buying fake tickets.
He added: “Belladrum is a small festival and I would not imagine that the percentage in profits is that high, so I don’t suppose they would need too many fakes until it would dig into the profits.
“I suppose people will always find ways of getting round things and I am afraid when you have people who have studied graphic design courses together with modern computer equipment, there will always be someone who wants to do it.
“And they know they can make a lot of money from doing it very quickly.”
Belladrum organisers are now issuing advice to people still planning to purchase late tickets for the event.
There are now no more official re-sales planned for unwanted e-tickets and the last resale was on June 4 on the website www.skiddle.com.
People who want to transfer unwanted e-tickets are being advised to contact Skiddle with the details of the ticket and of the person receiving it.
The company will then arrange for the tickets to be cancelled and new ones issued in the new holder’s name.
Customers are also being advised not to buy tickets from sellers on auction or social media sites and never to part with funds unless tickets are in the hand and known to be genuine.
This year’s Belladrum festival will include headline performances on the main stage by The Proclaimers, the Manic Street Preachers and Kaiser Chiefs.
Other acts appearing include The Stranglers, New Model Army, Rival Sonsm and King Creosote.
Revellers will also be treated to some fine dining inside a feasting tent at this year’s festival.