WARNING: Don’t Fall For Inauguration Ticket Fraud
By Justin Gardner | Related entries in Barack, Law, Money
No tickets have been giving out for the event, but that hasn’t stopped some shady folks from trying to dupe people into buying them
With 73 days to go, tickets are already appearing on the Internet with a hefty price tag. On eBay, 18 bidders have driven up one pair to more than $1,000. One Web site, Inauguraltickets.com, is inviting members of the public to place orders, warning “Our prices will reflect the difficulty in obtaining” tickets. Another site, Dreamtix, is offering a variety of seats ranging from $1,400 to $21,000 a pop.Carole Florman, Communications Director for the Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies, says “anyone claiming to have tickets to sell right now, or saying that they will guarantee tickets, is not telling the truth.” Florman told CNN the 240,000 free tickets to the swearing-in ceremony are currently in a “secure location” and will not be handed out until a few days before. Tickets to the Inaugural Parade and official balls will be handled by a Presidential Inaugural Committee, which has yet to be formed.
It’s disappointing, but not surprising. Because with so many people showing up to see Obama during the primaries and the general election, the demand for these tickets will be intense.
By the way, is there anybody who reads this blog who will be going?
This entry was posted on Saturday, November 8th, 2008 and is filed under Barack, Law, Money. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
November 8th, 2008 at 4:06 pm
I’ve already submitted a request to my local rep, which I believe is the only way anyone can get a ticket.
My local rep happens to be Rahm Emanuel, so I’ve no hope of getting a ticket, considering he’s probably busy with other stuff and I imagine there are other folks in my district who might have signed up sooner. Also, I didn’t submit a request until yesterday, so there’s that. Fingers still crossed!
November 10th, 2008 at 9:17 am
My wife and I are going and did the same thing as Jasmine – asked our local rep’s office (Brian Baird – WA) for tickets. Who knows if we’ll get any, but at least the parade is open to the public. I’m looking forward to some sightseeing anyway!
November 10th, 2008 at 2:08 pm
[...] the way, if you are going and you want a ticket be on the lookout for fraud. This entry was posted on Monday, November 10th, 2008 and is filed under 2008 Election, Barack, [...]
November 10th, 2008 at 2:32 pm
[...] Of course, if you really are interested in coming into town, you should also be aware of the scams that have already started popping up. [...]
November 10th, 2008 at 9:42 pm
I purchased my plane ticket for the Inauguration in early October. I fly out on Jet Blue, non-stop to Washington, DC on the 18th. Trying to shore up tickets to the swearing-in ceremony (my only interest), I came upon a website called GreatSeats.com purporting to have “100% guaranteed tickets” to the inaugural events. “Tickets” to the swearing-in” were priced from $515 to $6825. The deal stank like day old fish so I called Obama Headquarters and got the real information.
A couple of days ago, I sent my request for tickets to U.S Senator Dianne Feinstein D-CA (who’s my U.S. Senator). I also sent a request to Congresswoman Barbara Lee, D-CA, (my 9th District U.S. Representative). I’m giving it my best shot to get a ticket…but even if I fail, I will be in Washington DC. I believed that Senator Obama would be President Obama, and I will not be deterred now.