The Rise of Fake Olympic Ticket Fraud

As the excitement builds for the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games, the risk of falling victim to fake ticketing websites is at an all-time high.

A cybersecurity company, Proofpoint has found many fraudulent websites, including “paris24tickets.com,” that look like real companies. These misleading websites attract users with attractive deals but only end up collecting personal and payment information without providing any valid tickets. The French Gendarmerie Nationale has reported that there are over 300 fraudulent websites in existence, which just shows how big the problem is.

Ticket Fraud: How Issuers Can Help

To help cardholders avoid these scams, here are some important steps that issuers can take to educate cardholders:

Official Websites Recommend purchasing tickets from the official Paris 2024 ticketing website, as this is a legitimate source. If cardholders decide to use other websites, they should carefully check the URLs and be wary of any sites that look suspicious. Citizens Advice has some helpful tips.

Secure Payment Types Make sure cardholders are cautious about paying with certain payment methods. Scammers prefer payment methods that are difficult to trace. Debit and credit cards are the recommended payment methods to use as they offer better security. For example, if tickets are not delivered due to the company being fraudulent, the charge can be disputed and potentially recovered through the chargeback process.

Sign Up for Alerts If the cardholder has provided details to a fraudulent company, there could potentially be additional unauthorised transactions. By recommending cardholders to enroll in purchase alert services via email, text, or in the banking app, they will be able to monitor transactions in real-time and be able to report any suspicious activity immediately.

Managing the Ticket Fraud Recovery

If a cardholder falls victim to one of these ticket fraud scams, issuers can take action to help recover their funds. The chargeback process involves these three main steps:

Evidence Request all relevant information, including emails, and screenshots of the fraudulent website. This documentation is crucial for supporting the chargeback claim.

Chargeback Processing Consider processing a merchandise/service not received chargeback if the requirements can be met.

Keep Cardholders Informed Maintain clear communication with the cardholder. Explain each step, including the possibility that the merchant may dispute the chargeback.

Wrapping Up: Staying Safe from Ticket Scams

When buying tickets online, especially for high-profile events such as the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, cardholders must be well-informed and stay vigilant. Purchasing tickets from official sources, using secure payment methods, and signing up for transaction alerts, will all minimise becoming a victim to these ticket fraud scams. By being cautious, cardholders will have a better chance of safeguarding their personal finances and personal information.