Technology Helps Spurs Clamp Down on Illegal Ticket Sales

Tottenham Hot Spur are tightening measures to ensure that their supporters are not exploited by ticket touts. Thanks to their ticketing system, the club have the ability to identify tickets sold on the black market and are now taking legal action against 100 cases of fraud.

Following one of the most popular games of the season; Spurs versus Manchester United at White Hart Lane, the club identified 250 tickets that had been sold on the black market, before last Saturday's big game.

Ticket Office Manager Karen Murphy said: "We care a great deal about how fans are consistently exploited by touts at White Hart Lane. We are constantly trying to improve our technology and business processes, to ensure it becomes harder for these unscrupulous customers to purchase match tickets. We will continue to work with the police and Data Factors to improve the situation throughout the season."

In-house investigators used Data Factors ticketing technology to track down the 250 tickets that had been sold on, which originated from the club's box holders, season ticket holders and members. Sell-on prices were being reported as extortionate" with one known to have sold for 600. This is twelve times the tickets face value.

The club now intend to prosecute 100 cases, which includes five ticket agencies. The club also appealed to supporters. "If you have been a victim and purchased a match ticket from an unauthorised source, please help the club help to you. You should contact the ticket office"

Data Factors they have worked with Tottenham for some time, to make good use of their technology in detecting credit card fraud and ticket touts. A spokesperson said, "For obvious reasons we cannot give details of what the systems we supply do in this respect."

"The fact that Spurs have identified this number of illegal sales and will be prosecuting, is a testimony to the systems effectiveness. There are also many more attempted illegal purchases which the system stopped before the tickets got into circulation."

For further information, contact Simon Clark at Data Factors on 0800 526460 or email ecomm@datafactors.co.uk