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Warning issued over ‘bogus’ website claiming to sell tickets to cancelled Groovin The Moo festival in Bunbury

Headshot of Jackson Barrett
Jackson BarrettBunbury Herald
Groovin The Moo is not coming to Bunbury but a website is claiming to sell tickets to it.
Camera IconGroovin The Moo is not coming to Bunbury but a website is claiming to sell tickets to it. Credit: Daniel Wilkins/The West Australian

Social media users have been warmed of a scam claiming to sell tickets through a “bogus” website to a South West festival which hasn’t run since the start of the pandemic.

A Facebook page called Groovin the Moo Festival 2022 is purporting to sell the tickets, despite the popular Bunbury music festival being canned for a third straight year.

Border restrictions meant the event, which normally attracts thousands of visitors to the South West city, was cancelled in 2020 and 2021.

The festival’s national tour is returning in 2022 but organisers are steering clear of WA, saying at the time they “couldn’t confidently tour to Bunbury”.

A post by the fake page, which links to a website called buyticket24, claims tickets are “already 20% sold out” and that buyers need to “get in quick”.

“Free car pass. Enjoy with your friends.! Don’t miss out!!,” the post reads.

Groovin The Moo, Hay Park in Bunbury. Pictured - Holy Holy
Picture: Daniel Wilkins
Camera IconHoly Holy at a previous Groovin The Moo. Credit: Daniel Wilkins/The West Australian

Consumer Protection has reported both the page and the website in a bid to have them taken down and urged social media users to be careful buying tickets as hundreds of events fall victim to the pandemic.

“With many events being cancelled or postponed due to COVID-19, consumers need to be on high alert for scammers continuing to sell fake tickets to these events,” Consumer Protection executive director Trish Blake said.

“Often social media ads will take consumers to a bogus website where they are asked to provide personal and financial information which end up in the hands of criminals.

“Apart from the initial loss of their funds, victims are also exposing themselves to the risk of identity fraud in the future.

“People should avoid clicking on links in social media ads for events and instead find out who the authorised ticket seller is and only purchase tickets through them.”

The website also claims to sell ‘VIP’ tickets to the event, which it says is being held in New York, America, in August.

Fake events and concerts feature on the page, including Def Leppard, Celine Dion and Queen concerts.

With a void left by the fan-favourite Bunbury festival, thousands are expected to pack the Busselton foreshore for this year’s Out of the Woods Festival, which features big-name Australian bands Ball Park Music, Thundamentals and The Jungle Giants, as well as acoustic duo Angus and Julia Stone.

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