Touts in the US, Latvia and Germany are reported to have been behind the majority of 1,600 tickets for gigs in Greater Manchester being sold at hugely inflated prices.
Campaigners at FanFair Alliance said they found tickets for almost 300 events across 13 venues in Manchester, Salford and Stockport were being touted on Viagogo.
The investigation looked at ticket prices for 13 Greater Manchester venues including Band On The Wall, Gorilla, Night & Day Cafe, The Star & Garter, YES, Rebellion, New Century and The White Hotel.
A Viagogo spokesman said the research was based on listing prices not final sale prices, adding that the company “takes its obligations under the law seriously”.
The FanFair investigation found the three touts in the US, Latvia and Germany were responsible for over 75% of more than 1,600 tickets listed for resale on the site, all of which were advertised at significantly over the cost price.
The most expensive ticket listed was £5,899 for Mica Millar’s show at New Century – a 19,728% mark-up.
Tickets to a 40th anniversary celebration of The Smiths’ The Queen Is Dead, featuring a conversation between the band’s drummer Mike Joyce and producer Stephen Street, also at the New Century, were being touted for £549 each.