Three men have been arrested for allegedly running a scam at this year’s Austin City Limits Music Festival. Police say the scam not only cost the festival thousands of dollars, but also opened up other festivalgoers to safety threats.
According to police, Cameron Beck, 24, Nathan Beck, 30, and Michael Martin, 33, posted a Craigs List ad selling ACL wristbands. Buyers would reportedly meet with the men at the festival to complete the transaction. After the wristbands were purchased, one scammer would escort the buyer into the festival to meet a second scammer who would remove the wristband. Then, the third scammer would reportedly exit the festival and re-sell the wristbands to a new buyer.
The fraudulent wristbands were scanned 104 times and cost the festival organizers almost $11,000.
“If you are going to ACL festivals, just do not purchase wristbands from anybody that you don’t know, or any unidentified source,” said APD officer Destiny Silva. “We really want to be mindful of unathorized entry or people committing crimes because, overall, it affects everyone’s safety.”
The scam was busted up by an undercover Austin police officer who answered the Craigs List ad. An affidavit says the officer paid $150 for his wristband and was told to hand over his cell phone and ID as collateral. The officer complied and, once inside, gave the wristband back in exchange for his phone and ID. At that time, other officers moved in to make the arrests.
The men are charged with theft of service and engaging in organized criminal activity.
