Imagine spending thousands of dollars for the opportunity to meet Morgan Wallen only to discover you've been scammed.
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That's allegedly what happened to an estimated 600 fans of the "I'm the Problem" artist. Wallen is scheduled to perform two shows at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor this weekend. And while there are seats available, with some going for more than $2,600, others have already spent hundreds of dollars and may get nothing.
Where Are the Morgan Wallen Tickets?
As reported by The Detroit News, hundreds of fans purchased tickets through HailGate. The service hosts tailgate parties for Michigan Wolverine games and sells tickets and merchandise for the Big Ten team.
When fan Bill Karpovich didn't receive his tickets to Wallen's show, he reached out to John Klein, who runs HailGate. Klein not only ignored Karpovich's messages, but he also blocked him. That's when Karpovich realized he wasn't alone in his frustration.
"Later on that night I was going through my news feed and saw another lady on HailGate was complaining, calling him out as a fraud," the fan said. "I did some research, and within an hour, 10 more people popped up saying this (fraudulent activity) was going on."
Karpovich then created a Facebook group for those who haven't received their tickets from HailGate. Among the 600 members is a 70-year-old grandmother who paid $3,000 for tickets, a backstage pass, and an autographed guitar. She has yet to receive them.
Klein Has an Explanation
Klein says the missing tickets are due to a cease-and-desist letter from Wallen's representatives. It bars him from selling resale tickets to any of the singer's concerts.
"I don't want to cross Morgan Wallen, but I don't want to let people down," Klein said. "I'm kind of between a rock and a hard place here."
Now that the story is getting some significant attention, fans have told Karpovich that they have received refunds from Klein. The reseller says he is working to send refunds to those who bought tickets from him. However, because HailGate has more than 10,000 members, it's difficult for him to keep track of things.
"You've got this group demanding refunds instead of listening to me," he added.
Klein encourages affected customers to email him at [email protected]. However, Karpovich has yet to receive his money back. He says that he and several other alleged victims have filed reports with the Michigan State Police.
