Fake Pemberton Music Festival tickets sold in Coquitlam, B.C.

Fake tickets are circulating to Pemberton Music Festival, and anyone who bought theirs online from a third-party should check their serial numbers, said Coquitlam RCMP.

Police found out about the counterfeits last night when they were called to a street fight on Johnson Street in downtown Coquitlam, B.C.

The victims who had bought tickets to the weekend festival for $280 each on Craigslist were meeting with the seller, when "things escalated," said Cpl. Jamie Chung.

Police found the seller had a significant amount of cash, and a stack of fake tickets, all with the same three serial numbers:

• 00991241865453
• 00991241865354
• 00991241865255

"We were able to tell they were fake because the serial number on the ticket repeated over and over again on different tickets," said Chung. Investigators believe the fakes are copies of real tickets.

Chung wouldn't say how many fakes the seller had on hand, or how much cash he'd made off the alleged scheme.

Other fakes may be out there, say police

Police are asking anyone who bought a Pemberton Music Festival ticket online through a third party to check their serial number, and contact festival organizers to verify whether it's real. Anyone with tickets matching the above serial numbers are asked to call Coquitlam RCMP at 604-945-1550.

Chung said people can protect themselves by buying tickets directly from festival organizers.

"Even if we charge him and he is convicted, the chances of getting your cash back may not be that great, so prevention is the most important thing."

The Pemberton Music Festival organizers said in a statement they are "disheartened to learn that fans are possibly being taken advantage of by unscrupulous parties."

The only way to know your ticket is valid is to buy it through the festival website, or at the box office in Whistler, said organizers.

The festival runs from July 16-19.