Rugby World Cup online ticket scam exposed

Almost 300 supporters have complained to the National Fraud Intelligence Bureau about an online ticket scam that is estimated to have taken more than £500,000 of fans' money ahead of the Rugby World Cup.

New Zealand-based Gillian Dailey ordered tickets in January for £830 to take her four-year-old daughter Lexi, but discovered last week she had been a victim of an unofficial website, getsporting.com, which is still live and offering tickets for matches.

She told Sky Sports News HQ: "I was so disappointed to think that it was the only game Lexi and I were going to and to think that we wouldn't be going - I just couldn't believe it actually."

Fans from around the world have donated tickets to Gillian, who has now arrived in London for the tournament. She added: "We're looking forward to going to some of the matches, we're actually going to two now and we're just going to have fun away and tour around the UK."

Getsporting.com's telephone number has been suspended at the request of the National Fraud Intelligence Bureau.

Britain's leading ticket fraud expert, Reg Walker, claims he told police about the site in November - three months before the Dailey family had ordered their tickets - and says forces do not have enough power to stop fraudulent touts.

"The government was asked to legislate to protect the Rugby World Cup, one of the jewels in the crown of the sporting calendar, and yet singularly failed to do so, and what we're now seeing as a result of that is literally hundreds and potentially thousands of people falling victim to scam sites," he said.

City of London Police say they have been aware of the site for months, but have struggled to get it taken down.

DCI Andy Fyfe said: "It's very difficult for law enforcement when a website is based in some far reaching part of the world for us to have jurisdiction and effectiveness in dealing with that website if it's a fraudulent enterprise."

Sky Sports News HQ contacted getsporting.com and received an automated response stating Rugby World Cup bookings will be refunded. Gillian says she is yet to receive any money back.

Tournament organisers recommend supporters only buy from official sellers.