Event fraud is a type of fraud that targets those who are interested in large-scale events, such as concerts, festivals, conferences and other things of this nature.
In some cases, fraud allegations revolve around the fact that the event itself never existed. Someone could be accused of selling fake tickets and perpetrating a scam. They knew all along that there was never going to be an event, but they simply marketed it to an interested target audience as if it were a legitimate event and sold tickets that could never be used.
But in other cases, the issue is that the event itself was misrepresented. It does exist, but it is not what people thought they were signing up for when they purchased their tickets.
What does misrepresentation look like?
A good example of misrepresenting an event is the infamous Fyre Festival. The producers of this event were actually sued by those who tried to attend what was promoted as a prestigious music festival on an island.
But what was promised and what individuals received did not always line up. They were told they would have access to local seafood, sushi and a pig roast, but they actually got cold cheese sandwiches. They were told that there would be A-list musical acts, including Blink-182, but those bands did not play the festival. Concertgoers were also told they would have luxury accommodations, but were instead given emergency tents.
In other words, even though the Fyre Festival did happen, fraud allegations stemmed from the fact that it bore almost no resemblance to the event that was promised.
What are your defense options?
If you have been accused of event fraud, you may believe it is a misunderstanding or simply a marketing issue. You never intentionally tried to commit fraud. In a case like that, it is imperative that you understand exactly what defense options you have, and it can help to work with an experienced attorney.
