Dozens fall victim to fake concert scam

WESTPORT, Mass. (WPRI) - Police have arrested an East Providence man accused of promoting a fake concert at Whites of Westport.

Investigators say 61-year-old Allen Ganeto advertised a January 19 concert featuring Will Downing. Tickets were sold for $27 and $47 each.

However, Downing's agent tells police that Downing was never scheduled to perform in Westport. He was actually scheduled to perform at the President's Inaugural Ball in Washington, D.C. at the same time

Whites of Westport called police after they say Ganeto booked the event with a check on a closed account.

Police say Ganeto took cash and sold about 50 tickets for the event. He allegedly promoted the event in New Bedford where he worked as a basketball coach. Most of the people he took money from were acquaintances of his through that organization.

Investigators say this is not the first time that Ganeto promoted and took money for a fake event.  

Staff at the Venus Restaurant in Swansea told police that Ganeto planned and made tickets for a Howard Hewitt concert in October 2012. The event never took place. Some people were reportedly given their money back.  

Ganeto met with police and told them that he believed the Westport event was legitimate, but he was unable to produce the paperwork to support that.

Ganeto claimed that he gave all the cash earned through ticket sales to a partner. He said that he and his business partner were engaged in a company named AM Detailing, that's based out of South Dartmouth.

About 30 people arrived at Whites on Saturday night who believed that the concert was real. Police identified these people.  

Ganeto also arrived at Whites that night and was arrested. He was charged with Larceny by Check and Larceny by False Pretenses over $250 by a single scheme.  

Police are asking anyone with information about AM Detailing or Ganeto promoting the fake event to contact the Westport Police Detective Division at 508-636-1122.