- Woman fined after attempting to scalp Coldplay tickets at 241% mark-up
- Two tickets listed for $1,000 each despite legal cap of $456.86
- Public urged to continue reporting suspected scalpers to Consumer Protection
A woman from New South Wales has been fined $850 by the Perth Magistrates Court after attempting to resell two Coldplay concert tickets at up to 241 per cent above their original value.
Represented by her lawyer, she was convicted in her absence and granted a spent conviction after pleading guilty to breaching WA’s ticket scalping laws, which cap resale prices at a maximum of 10 per cent above the original ticket cost.
In May 2023, the woman purchased two tickets to attend the Coldplay concert in Perth in November 2023. The same day, she advertised the tickets for sale on an online classified platform for up to $1,000 each, despite their original price being $415.33. Under WA legislation, the legal resale limit for each ticket was $456.86.
The online advertisement was taken down within two hours of her being notified of the breach.
In delivering the sentence, the Magistrate noted the woman was not a habitual scalper and had made an ‘error of judgement’ in advertising the tickets at a price far exceeding the legal threshold.
Individuals found guilty of violating ticket scalping laws can face fines of up to $20,000, while those using automated ‘bots’ to purchase tickets in bulk may be penalised up to $100,000.
Commissioner for Consumer Protection Trish Blake said the outcome reinforced the agency’s commitment to safeguarding consumers and promoting fair access to events.
“Ticket scalping exploits fans by charging exorbitant prices or, worse, leaving them out of pocket if the resale violates terms that render the ticket invalid,” Ms Blake said.
“Excessive pricing can also distort the market, as others may follow suit and list their tickets at similar inflated rates.
“We urge the WA community to keep reporting suspected scalpers and to include as much detail as possible, such as screenshots of the adverts, any weblinks, and ad identification or reference numbers, to help us take action.”
People who see tickets being advertised online for more than 10 per cent of their original value are encouraged lodge a report with Consumer Protection by emailing consumer@lgirs.wa.gov.au. Enquiries can be made by calling 1300 30 40 54. Further information is on Consumer Protection’s events, tickets and ticket scalping webpage.
Media Contact: cpmedia@lgirs.wa.gov.au