The FPS Economy is launching a major campaign to educate consumers about the dangers of ticket fraud on Monday. The government service has seen a significant increase in reports of counterfeit tickets, with 360 reports in 2021, double the number from 2022. Most of these reports (70%) were related to festivals, while others included entrance tickets to concerts (19%), parties (8%), and amusement parks (4%). The reported damage totaled 60,615 euros in 2021, almost five times more than the previous year.
However, despite the rise in reported cases, the FPS Economy believes that the actual damage from ticket fraud is much higher. Many victims may feel ashamed or believe that reporting the scam is unnecessary. To help track down scammers and prevent further victims, the government service encourages all victims to report incidents of ticket fraud through ConsumerConnect.be.
To avoid falling victim to ticket fraud, the FPS Economy recommends purchasing tickets only through official channels such as the event’s website, concert hall, artist, sports competition or amusement park. Even if an event is sold out, official channels may offer waiting lists or other options to purchase tickets legitimately and at a fair price. If a counterfeit ticket is purchased, individuals are advised to report it to ConsumerConnect.be and consider disputing the transaction through mijnkaart.be if payment was made with a credit card. The FPS also suggests reporting incidents to local police for further investigation.
