Christmas Festival of Light event in Cosham is a scam, Portsmouth City Council warns

Tickets have reportedly been sold for an event called the Christmas Festival of Light, scheduled to take place from December 7 to January 7 at King George V Playing Fields in Cosham.

However, Portsmouth City Council says there have been no bookings or event applications for an event on this date – and councillors have warned people that this is a scam.

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Posting on Facebook, cabinet member for climate change and environment Cllr Kimberly Barrett said: ‘I have checked this out with the cabinet member for culture and leisure as well as the city council events team and this is 100 per cent not real.

‘Please do not buy tickets from this site or share personal information. If anyone has paid please contact your banks as soon as possible. The police, council and trading standards are now aware and involved.’

A Facebook user going by the name Cheryl Thompson also attempted to advertise the event with The News.

Cabinet member for culture and leisure, Cllr Steve Pitt, said whoever is behind the scam is a ‘disgraceful person’.

‘It’s disgusting that at the height of a cost of living crisis, somebody would seek to take advantage of families and steal money from them,’ he said.

‘As soon as I became aware of this scam I notified trading standards. I am very sorry for anybody who has lost out, with social media it doesn’t take long for damage to be done by something like this. They do tend to pop up at this time of year so I would urge people to keep their wits about them.

‘It’s a dreadful way to treat people and I hope whoever is behind this gets brought to justice.'

Portsmouth City Council has confirmed that trading standards is making ‘urgent enquiries’ into the issue.

In the meantime, people who have purchased tickets should take immediate action.

If you have lost money to a ticket scam, report it to Action Fraud on 0300 123 2040 and contact your bank or credit card provider. More advice is available from Citizens Advice on 0808 223 1133.

Hampshire Constabulary is also urging victims to call 101 to help with the investigation.