Those shopping for hot ticket events hitting the Cowichan Performance Arts Centre need to be careful not to get burned by third party ticket sellers.
"We have noticed at the Cowichan Performing Arts Centre that some of our performances have been picked up by third-party ticketing websites," said CVRD arts and culture manager Patrick LeBlanc. "We first noticed last week when a client with Nutcracker tickets wanted to adjust their seats only to find out that they had paid for an order that we didn’t have. It’s tough, if it’s a sold out show like the Nutcracker that is likely to be here, then if their tickets are fake or duplicate there is nothing we can do to help.
LeBlanc said that too many people are finding third-party sites through internet browsers, and not only can they end up paying more than necessary for tickets but can also possibly end up putting their credit at risk by giving financial information to scammers. He said sometimes a client may end up being scammed into paying extra money for an event ticket that is still valid, but in these situations he encourages people to talk with their credit card company.
Those wanting to purchase tickets to events hitting the stage at Cowichan Performing Arts Centre should do so either in person at CPAC box office located in the lobby of the Cowichan Community Centre, by calling 250-746-2722, or online at cowichanpac.ca.
"It’s a super frustrating situation unfortunately, and several other venues that I speak with regularly are also having issues with these sales," said LeBlanc. "While some sellers may be legit and up front about their process, others are not and you run the risk of being lured to some disreputable sites. We’ve seen duplicate seats being sold through this process, and it’s heartbreaking to tell people when they arrive at an event they’ve been looking forward to that they have been scammed and their ticket isn’t valid."
