VANCOUVER

Pair accused of selling fake tickets for concerts, Canucks games

Darcy Wintonyk CTV Vancouver
Published Wednesday, July 29, 2015 3:09PM PDT Last Updated Wednesday, July 29, 2015 3:16PM PDT

Taylor Swift to perform at NYC Times Square

Taylor Swift performs on stage at CBS Radio's second annual We Can Survive concert at the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles, Friday, Oct. 24, 2014. (Photo by Todd Williamson / Invision)

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A couple accused of selling fake tickets for more than a dozen major sporting events and concerts in Vancouver will remain behind bars until their next court appearance.

Police said since Oct. 2014, the pair has sold unsuspecting customers fraudulent Ticketmaster tickets for events including the upcoming Taylor Swift concert, as well as shows for Fleetwood Mac, AC/DC, Shania Twain, Ed Sheeran and Sam Smith.

The accused didn’t just target concertgoers: they are accused of bilking buyers looking to attend Vancouver Canucks games and the Grey Cup, as well as performances for the Lion King and Book of Mormon. Fake five-day Disneyland park passes were also sold, say police.

The exact number of victims is unknown and the VPD believes there may be additional consumers -- possibly hundreds -- that fell prey to the scam, but haven’t come forward. The couple has been linked to 50 instances of fraud so far.

Investigators say all of the tickets were advertised on the online marketplace Craigslist, and interested purchasers provided initial contact by email and a cell phone number.

After arranging a meeting place by text message, the sales were made in various locations including the buyers’ homes and public streets.

A grey BMW, brown Hyundai Elantra and blue Honda Civic were used in the transactions.

In each case, the alleged rip-off was the same: the male driver would stay in the vehicle while his female companion sold the tickets. A small dog was often seen in the back seat of the vehicle.

Const. Brian Montague said the woman occasionally used an Irish passport with the name Jenny Donoghue.

“It is believed she used the passport if asked for identification or to gain the trust of the buyer,” he said.

In other times, the woman used the name Alex or Alexandra, while the man identified himself as James Hunter.

Arielle Federation, 22, is charged with personation and fraud, and Colin Richardson, 30, is charged with fraud and use of forged documents.

Montague warned Vancouverites against buying concert or event tickets from sources like Craigslist, saying the only way to ensure the authenticity of tickets is to buy from a legitimate retailer.

Here’s the complete list of events the pair are accused of selling fake tickets for: