Nicki Minaj Concert Scam

Police at Montclair State University in New Jersey are investigating a report of an alleged scam artist pretending to represent hip-hop artist Nicki Minaj and ripping off the school for about $27,000 for a nonexistent concert.

The university’s Montclarion reported students turned out in droves Sept. 22 to buy tickets for the Oct. 8 Homecoming concert at Memorial Auditorium, some arriving the night before.

But the excitement faded after a student reportedly posted a photo of the crowd of ticket buyers online and found out the concert was news to Minaj.

“What is this I’m hearing about a MSU concert?” Minaj posted on her Twitter account. “Where and when is this concert supposed to be? I feel so bad 4 ppl who were scammed.”

Student Government Association President Christopher Goscinski told the paper the truth came out when staff tried to reach the alleged scammer, who used the name Romarick Hough of Premier Talent Agency, about the arrangements.

“We contacted who we assumed was her agent, from the contract that we signed, to make sure everything was still on, but we couldn’t get in touch with him,” Goscinski said. “Further discussions happened and we got in touch with her real agency … That’s when we realized [what the situation] on campus was about.”

Minaj is represented by Creative Artists Agency and the real Premier Talent Agency was acquired by William Morris Agency in 2002.

Goscinski also told the Montclarion there was no indication during the negotiation process with Hough, which consisted of phone calls, faxes and text messages only, that the booking wasn’t on the level.

“It’s really our fault. We should have [gotten] a little more background information on the company, but nothing came up on the radar to make us think that this company was illegitimate,” he said. “Had something come up that seemed sketchy or out of the ordinary, we would have investigated it.”

A statement from MSU director of programming Juliana Penn to the paper made it clear that Minaj and her reps had no part in the alleged scam and that steps are being taken to track down the culprit.

Meanwhile, Minaj continued to tweet about the scam, posting Hough’s name and phone number on her Twitter account, and reminding fans to go to the source for concert dates.

The paper also said Minaj has offered to help the SGA set up a similar type of concert at the school at the same budget in the future.

An MSU spokesman was not available for comment at press time.