Cork mum loses out on €580 in Taylor Swift ticket scam

However, Noelle Coughlan and 10-year-old daughter Issy will not be among the lucky ticket holders. 

The pair were heartbroken after Noelle was scammed out of €580 after purchasing what she believed were genuine tickets. 

While the loss was devastating, Noelle said it was even more difficult to see her child so heartbroken. 

Noelle had also bought a ticket for her niece Jessica, who is due to celebrate her 20th birthday on the same day.

Jessica had alerted her aunt to Taylor Swift tickets being sold by her friend’s mum on Facebook.

She subsequently offered to buy tickets online on Noelle’s behalf.

Jessica had no idea she had been exchanging messages with a con artist posing as her friend’s mother. 

She even received an image of the tickets to confirm the purchase was legitimate.

By the time she realised they had fallen victim to a scam, it was too late.

Noelle recalled how Issy cried when she heard the news. 

She has been trying everything in her power since to source alternative tickets for Saturday.

The family is appealing to anyone unable to make the concert to consider selling them tickets.

“The person posing as the woman selling the tickets said their nephew was taking the payment via his revolut account but was working the nightshift,” Noelle explained. 

“It was taking them so long to transfer the tickets Jess said she no longer wanted them and asked for her money back. They then replied saying they had received the money but asked for a €50 transfer fee-per ticket-to email the tickets. That was when we knew something was very wrong.” 

She explained that the tone of the messages became very sinister from that point.

The person, who turned out to be a man, told Jessica that he couldn’t believe someone would do this to their child when they had been so excited about seeing Taylor Swift. 

“He said that there were more people getting in contact with him who were willing to pay any price.” 

Noelle described breaking the disappointing news to her daughter.

I had to wake her up the next morning and tell her there were no tickets and the money was gone. 

“It didn’t matter to me about the money at all because it was only mine that had been lost. 

“She had been so excited that I knew she would be telling all her friends at school. 

“I didn’t want her to have to go back to them and say they never existed.” 

The accountant contacted Revolut to raise concern about the incident.

“They told me they would look into it but added that this might take a few days. 

“They were liaising with his bank but got nothing back. The money had been withdrawn straight away. It was gone. 

“In the end, they were able to return 53c of the money he took from us.” 

She warned others to be mindful of the scam which has been sweeping the country since the concerts were announced.

“It was a moment of madness. I have always been very careful when it comes to things like this. 

“My approach was always extremely cautious but I jumped on this because I knew how much my daughter wanted Taylor Swift tickets. 

“I jumped on it too fast. I never thought I’d be caught, but it just goes to show this can happen to anyone.”