Backstreet fights scalpers

The Backstreet Boys aren't happy with scalpers who made a profit off their Denver concert on Oct. 31, Allstar reported.

Private investigators discovered that 1200 venue-controlled tickets were grabbed by vendors. Fans who bought scalper tickets were charged at least $110.00 for tickets worth $38.50.

The band is asking the House of Blues, which promoted the Denver concert, to make a $75,000 donation to the Columbine College Fund as a way of making up for the fact it didn't control scalpers.

The fund offers financial help for post-secondary education to students affected by the April 20 shooting at Columbine High School.

The Backstreet Boys released a statement today on the issue of scalping.

"We've done everything we can to prevent scalping, from limiting the number of tickets purchased to distributing wristbands," it read. "To think scalping of this type occurred at the Denver show infuriated us. With us, the fans always come first and anything that compromises our connection with them will always be addressed and properly investigated. We were horrified to learn that our fans in Denver were manipulated and ripped off this way."

The Backstreet Boys are on stage in Birmingham Ala. tonight (Nov. 23).