The FPS Economy is set to launch a campaign on Monday to raise awareness among consumers about ticket fraud. This government service has seen a significant increase in the number of reports filed, with 360 cases reported last year, compared to just 141 in 2022. The majority of these reports were related to counterfeit tickets for festivals (70 percent), but other types of fraudulent tickets included entrance tickets to concerts (19 percent), parties (8 percent), and amusement parks (4 percent). In total, the reported damages amounted to 60,615 euros last year, nearly five times more than in 2022 when the damages were just 13,142 euros.
On average, victims lost €168 each to scammers. However, the FPS Economy believes that the actual damages due to ticket fraud are likely much higher. Lien Meurisse, a spokesperson for the government service, says that many victims may feel ashamed or not see the value in reporting scams as they have already lost their money. Nevertheless, she encourages all victims to report incidents of ticket fraud through ConsumerConnect.be so that perpetrators can be identified and future victims can be prevented.
To avoid falling victim to ticket fraud, consumers are advised to always purchase tickets through the official website of the event, concert hall, artist or sports competition or amusement park. Even if an event is sold out and there are no official channels available for purchasing tickets from others in a legitimate manner and at the correct price. If someone has unknowingly purchased a counterfeit ticket, they should report it through ConsumerConnect.be immediately. Additionally, if the purchase was made with a credit card, individuals can dispute it through mijnkaart.be or contact their bank’s customer support team for help resolving any issues associated with their purchase.
Reporting incidents of ticket fraud to local police is also advised by Lien Meurisse who emphasized that even small actions can make a big difference in preventing future incidents and protecting consumers from falling victim again.
Overall, this campaign will raise awareness among consumers about ticket fraud and encourage them to take action if they have fallen victim or know someone who has been scammed by buying fake tickets online or over-the-counter without proper verification.
