Fake concert tickets scam thousands of French fans out of millions

From Jul's sold-out show to Oasis reunions, fraudsters are cashing in on desperation. Discover the red flags before you buy—and where to get tickets safely.

, and Administrator

2026 April 3 . 5:02 AM

1 min read

The image shows a poster advertising a concert in Paris, France. It features a group of people,... — The image shows a poster advertising a concert in Paris, France. It features a group of people, some of whom are playing musical instruments, with a book on the table in front of them. The poster also has text written on it.

Fake concert tickets scam thousands of French fans out of millions

Fake concert tickets are causing major problems for fans across France. Recent scams have left thousands of people out of pocket and unable to attend events. Artists and authorities are now warning buyers to be extra careful when purchasing tickets. In April 2023, French rapper Jul warned his fans about fake tickets for his sold-out Stade de France concert. Despite 98,000 people attending, many were turned away after buying counterfeit passes. The issue isn't limited to one event—over 5,000 fans lost a total of €2.3 million to scams linked to the Oasis reunion tour.

Fraudsters often use professional-looking websites to trick buyers, as fake ticket sites are easy to set up. Even unofficial resale platforms like Viagogo, StubHub, and Live-booker.fr sell tickets at inflated prices without guaranteeing their validity. French law bans unauthorised resale, but enforcement remains weak against these platforms.

Scams also spread through private channels like Leboncoin and Facebook groups, where criminals known as brouteurs exploit fans. To avoid fraud, experts recommend using official resale platforms such as Fnac, Ticketmaster, and France Billet. TicketSwap is another safer option, as it caps resale prices and verifies ticket authenticity. The rise in fake tickets highlights the risks of buying from unofficial sources. Fans are advised to stick to authorised sellers to avoid losing money. While German data shows no major cases of concert fraud in 2023, French authorities continue to push for stricter enforcement against illegal resellers.