The Canadian National Exhibition is warning people if you want to come to The Ex, get your tickets through a legitimate source.
In a news release the CNE said it has received "numerous complaints from individuals who have attempted to purchase tickets on the website gogroupdeals.com. Users have indicated that the website collects their personal information and credit card data respecting the requested ticket purchase but then does not make tickets available for download or pickup."
The site claims to sell tickets for $11.02. People who have tried to purchase tickets say their personal and credit card information was collected, but no option to pick up or download the tickets was given.
According to CNE CEO Virginia Ludy Sunday, they were first made aware of the fraudulant website last week. "We immediately put up a notification to our customers and then we had to start an investigation because we needed to have sufficient evidence to take to the police so that they could open up an investigation."
The CNE has attempted to contact the website owner, but received no response to the request to cease and desist activities related to the purported sale of CNE tickets.
The CNE has reported this occurrence to Toronto Police Services and has also reported this website to Google requesting that it block search results identifying gogroupdeals.com as a CNE ticket seller.
"Buyer beware" were the words from Ludy. "This once again demonstrates that as consumers we need to be very careful about where we purchase things online from."
As for any potential refunds to customers who were duped by the website, Ludy was clear. "No"
There are only three legitimate places to buy CNE tickets: CNE Ticket Booths, participating GO Transit Stations and Online at TheEx.com