Trading Standards Warning Over Inflatable Event Scam in Coventry
Families in Coventry are being cautioned not to purchase tickets for an inflatables event that has been falsely advertised. The event, called The Big Jump Inflatable Park, was supposedly set to take place at Hearsall Common from 26 August to 2 September, with tickets being sold online for £9. However, Coventry City Council has announced that the event has not been approved and the venue has never been booked. Authorities are now investigating the matter.
Coventry City Council’s trading standards officers are actively looking into the situation after it was revealed that no official permission had been sought for the use of Hearsall Common. Following the council's warnings, the website selling tickets for the event has been taken down. However, prior to this, many families may have already purchased tickets, believing the event was legitimate.
The organiser of the event, The Big Jump, has declined to make any comments on the situation, further raising concerns about the legitimacy of the business. Parents and other ticket purchasers have been advised by the council to report their concerns to Citizens Advice if they believe they have been victims of a scam.
This isn't the first time The Big Jump has been involved in such controversies.
A similar event was advertised earlier in Southend, where families also purchased tickets for an inflatable park event that had not been approved by the local authorities. As with the Coventry case, the event in Southend did not take place, leaving parents feeling "very foolish" after spending money on tickets for a fraudulent event. Southend Council and trading standards issued warnings in response.
Coventry City Council continues to advise caution, urging residents not to book tickets for events unless they have been properly confirmed. In their official Facebook post, the council reminded people to verify events and report any suspicious activities to the appropriate authorities.
A spokesperson for Coventry City Council explained, "We've been made aware of an event advertised as taking place at Hearsall Common this summer. The Big Jump - Inflatable Park has not been given approval, and, as far as we are aware, is not planned to take place. We have not been approached about a booking for the common. Our Trading Standards Team is aware, and we urge people to exercise caution and avoid booking tickets for this event."
The event’s disappearance from online ticket platforms and the lack of communication from the organizers have raised concerns that this could be part of a larger fraudulent scheme. Trading standards and local authorities are working to prevent any further incidents and ensure that unsuspecting families are not misled by similar schemes in the future.