Police issue warning over adverts from Olympic ticket touts

The force has issued the warning after discovering recent adverts for Games tickets in the "national and international media" that ask the public to contact a mobile phone number or email address in order to access "more information" about the advertised tickets.

Only "authorised ticket resellers" are entitled to sell or advertise for sale Games under the terms and conditions of ticket purchases established by the London Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games (LOCOG). "Tickets ... must not be sold nor advertised for sale whether on the internet, in newspapers or elsewhere," the LOCOG terms state.

 Under the London Olympic Games and Paralympic Games Act unauthorised ticket touts face criminal convictions if they are caught selling, advertising, or offering to sell, Olympic tickets in the course of a business or to make a profit. Individuals can be fined £20,000 for the offence.

Detective Superintendent Nick Downing from The Met's 'Operation Podium' said individuals looking for Olympics tickets should only use official channels.

"Please do not attempt to buy tickets from adverts such as these as you risk paying over the odds for tickets that may not exist and your personal details may be stolen and used in other crimes," Downing said in a statement.

"The safest way to buy tickets for the Olympic and Paralympic Games is from the London 2012 website. On this site you will find the most up to date information about tickets, future Olympic and Paralympic Games ticket sales and the London 2012 website checker," he said.

Operation Podium consists of a dedicated team at The Met responsible for tackling "serious and organised economic crime against the Games and is working to disrupt those serious and organised criminals looking to target the Games".