Fake websites multiply as 2012 Olympic Games approaches

Scammers hoping to profit on the upcoming 2012 Olympic Games in London are already establishing fake ticketing sites, judging from the increase in Olympic-related web domains being registered online.

To create awareness among internet users, the London Organizing Committee of the Olympic Games (LOCOG) advised online buyers not to transact from any company or person claiming to be reserving tickets. LOCOG informed that tickets to the 2012 Olympic Games will just be offered from 2011 via official websites.

Which? Computing, a computer magazine, said that any individual can set up a domain name for just £7. The IT magazine fears that scammers will start selling fraudulent Olympic tickets online, and will utilize websites to gain financial information of buyers or to carry out identity fraud.

Sarah Kidner, Editor of Which? Computing, also warned that several websites are already promising tickets that do not exist. She further recommended that domain name registrars must have strong regulations to stop scammers from running off with the buyers’ money online.

The UK-based domain name registration company Nominet disagreed with Which? Computing’s recommendation, saying that it is not the registrar’s role to make background checks on individuals registering Olympic-related websites.

Currently, the UK has no law as to who can register a domain name. Yet in other countries, like Albania and Bermuda, their governments have stricter procedures in place for domain registration.

A LOCOG spokesman said that the organization will work closely with the law enforcers and other government authorities to ensure that the online ticket selling regulations are strictly imposed.