Suspicious Burning Man scam targets Fyre Festival ticket buyers
Don't get burned on this one
Ticket buyers from last year’s infamous Fyre Festival disaster are being targeted by a suspicious ticketing scam that claims to be selling “pre-sale tickets” to Burning Man for $350.
Staying true to the festival’s counterculture and sponsorship free ethos, the desert festival has never used second-party ticket sellers. Official Burning Man organizers have a clear and simple message for anyone receiving this offer… don’t be fooled!
Burning Man communications manager Dominique Debucquoy-Dodley has responded to the reports of this scam in the following statement: “Burning Man has not started selling tickets yet. We warn people extensively to only buy tickets directly from Burning Man or from trusted sources. This isn't fraud directed at us, but rather at the individuals who are duped into purchasing the ‘tickets.’”
Vice News reports that a company called NYC: VIP Access run by a man by the name of Frank Tribble is the one spearheading this swindle. One interested party that followed up on the scam to purchase six wristbands for the festival, received the following “contract” from Tribble (pictured below).
Tribble has not only targeted potential Burners. According to numerous reports, NYC: VIP Access has sent out a litany of false ticket deals for exclusive entertainment events to the poor souls who were forced to suffer through last year's Fyre Festival ordeal. These offerings include tickets to the Victoria Secret Fashion Show, The Met Gala and private meet-and-greets with Lebron James, Ed Sheeran and Taylor Swift.
Official pre-sale tickets for the Playa are slated to go online on January 31, ranging in price between $400 and $1,300.
Check out our 16 favorite reactions to last year's Fyre Festival by going here.
Cameron is Mixmag's US Editorial Intern. Follow him on Twitter here