As the highly anticipated film Leo is all set to grace the big screens on October 19, scammers are taking advantage of the soaring demand for tickets. A ticket scam related to Leo’s first-day, first-show screenings in Madurai has recently been uncovered.
Gopuram Cinema Management has filed a complaint with the Sellur Police Station in Madurai, Tamil Nadu, reported ANI. The theater is seeking action against individuals who fraudulently sold fake tickets under the name of Gopuram Theater in Madurai, despite legitimate ticket bookings for the film being available online.
According to local reports, Gopuram Theatre is scheduled to screen Leo’s first show at noon, and tickets for this show are legitimately available for purchase online. However, a fraudulent scheme involving fake 9 a.m. show tickets being sold on WhatsApp has come to light. A ticket buyer who had acquired a ticket for the 9 a.m. show contacted the theater to confirm the show’s timing, only to discover that the ticket was indeed fake.
This isn’t the first instance of fraudulent film ticket sales in Madurai. Earlier, fake tickets were reported to be circulating for a special premiere screening of Leo on October 18, a day prior to the film’s official release. Theater owners swiftly clarified the situation and cautioned moviegoers that these tickets were scams, as the theater had not initiated ticket sales for the film at that time.
The theater issued a tweet stating, “Dear Vijay Fans. This is to inform you all that we have been notified of fake ticket sales in recent days. So, we kindly request everyone not to buy those proxy tickets, as our Cinipriya Management will not be responsible for those Tickets. Thanks! With love, Cinipriya Complex.”
Leo, directed and written by Lokesh Kanagaraj, boasts an impressive ensemble cast that includes Thalapathy Vijay, Sanjay Dutt, Trisha, Gautham Vasudev Menon, Arjun, Mansoor Ali Khan, Mysskin, and Priya Anand. The film is produced by SS Lalit Kumar and Jagadish Palanisamy, with the musical score crafted by Anirudh Ravichander.
Leo is reported to have been created with a substantial budget ranging from Rs 250 to 300 crore. As the film’s release date draws nearer, it is essential for moviegoers to be vigilant and only purchase tickets from legitimate sources to avoid falling victim to ticket scams.