GAGA FAN SCAM

Hundreds of Lady Gaga fans in Spain have been duped when they bought counterfeit tickets over the internet, the consumers' association CECU said on Monday.

The victims paid up to 200 euro for the tickets, twice the real price for the Madrid concert, which was attended by about 18 000 people on Sunday.

Police said that 8 original tickets had been copied hundreds of times and were of a very high standard of counterfeit. Many of the tickets were purchased well in advance of the weekend concert.

The fraud only came to light when large numbers of concert goers were refused entry. Some of the disappointed revelers tried to force their way in, resulting in the intervention by the police, and many more of the victims of the scam were too upset to even speak.

The consumer association, in conjunction with the police, is investigating the situation with a view to trying to get refunds for the victims and possible criminal charges. Meanwhile, future concert goers are reminded to only by tickets through official and recognised channels.