People warned over Liberation Ball ticket scam

Police said scammers had used social media to target islanders

Scammers have used an event commemorating the 80th anniversary of Guernsey's liberation from German occupation during World War two as a way of targeting islanders, police have warned.

It comes after tickets for the Liberation Hangar Ball sold out on Tuesday.

A Bailiwick Law Enforcement spokesperson said: "It has come to our attention that scammers are targeting islanders on Facebook by pretending to have spare tickets to the Liberation Ball."

The event's sponsor, Specsavers, added it was proactively monitoring the event's Facebook page and was blocking accounts that looked suspicious.

The police spokesperson added: "If you are ever tempted to enter your personal details to sign up for, or pay money for, an online deal that seems too good to be true - especially ones that ask for your bank details - we would advise you are always suspicious."

'Too excited'

Guernsey resident Debbie Dupport was one victim of the reported scam.

She said: "We were desperate to get a table for 12 because we normally go, so I panicked a bit.

"It sold within two minutes and my friend, who was also looking for me, said a friend on Facebook had four tickets available."

Ms Dupport agreed to pay for the tickets but admitted she was "too excited" and paid straight away.

After being told to cancel her order and start a new order, she became suspicious and only later on discovered the tickets she had purchased were for an event in Toronto, Canada.

In total, Ms Dupport spent £220 on the four tickets, which she was able to recover from her bank.

She said: "It was disappointing because we did think we had some tickets.

"The bank did give it back, so we had a clean slate, which was good. But the person who scammed us, obviously, has got away with it."