Mama Mia! Beware of fraudulent ticket sales for hot Kelowna musical

KELOWNA – The Kelowna Actors Studio is warning of scam internet ticket sales for its production of the hit musical Mama Mia beginning its run this week.

“It’s been happening at a low level for a while and we put out a warning but now it’s getting really bad,” box office manager Rebecca Leboe said.

“One lady yesterday paid $200 US each for her tickets,” she added. “There are no ticket sales in US dollars.”

The fake tickets are being sold on ticket reselling websites and Leboe says they can’t do anything about it, other than warn would-be patrons of the fraudulent sales.

“There are only three ways to buy tickets. Anything else is a scam,” she added.

That includes visiting www.kelownatickets.com, calling 250-862-2867 or in person at the Kelowna Tickets box office in Orchard Park Mall.

Leboe said the theatre won’t be hit directly by the fraudulent sales but it affects its reputation and discourages would-be theatre-goers by advertising false inflated prices.

She was unsure of the legal status of the fraudulent sales.

“It’s international and it’s online so it’s really the credit card companies I think, that get affected,” she said.

Mama Mia! is based on the music of the pop group ABBA and is playing Aug. 2 to 11 at the Kelowna Community Theatre.

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