As people look forward to the Paris Summer Olympics games, many have started booking their flights as well as purchasing tickets to the actual event. However, amidst this anticipation, there’s an urgent warning for all Olympics enthusiasts: stay away from fake ticket sellers. Scammers are out there waiting for you, eager to capitalize on your passion and defraud you out of your cash and identity.
Widespread Fake Ticketing Websites
Recently, the Olympic Committee pointed out that fraudsters set up fake ticket websites to sell fake Olympic tickets to fans with reasonable prices restricted site access, and limited stock seats. Specifically, one of the most shocking scams is an offer to receive free tickets to attend the opening ceremony of the 2024 Paralympics, where people are asked to pay for the delivery of tickets. These scams not only are bogus but they can cause serious monetary loss and identity thefts.
Security specialists of Kaspersky Lab managed to detect a great number of phishing Internet resources that offer Olympic tickets for a rather low price containing an element of uniqueness or exclusiveness. These sites mostly advertise the availability of the sold-out competitions in a bid to make fans spend their hard-earned money plus their sensitive information. The situation is much worse – the victims are awarded invalid tickets or worse, receive nothing at all. Their personal information can also be sold on the Dark Web, adding other potential losses to the scale.
Specific personas and well-known fraud schemes
Richards revealed that even his family once fell to these cons, having been scammed out of £2,500 on a fake ticket-selling site. The promise of procuring tickets to a popular event puts one in a compromising state of mind, thus making them an ideal victim in these elaborate scams.
Concerning these fake sites, some of them are fairly well-known. Security firm Proofpoint found one such site that mimicked real URL and was the second link that came up when using Google’s search bar to type ‘Paris 2024 tickets’. Being positioned so high a fan can easily become a victim of a phishing site that closely resembles the look and feel of an official domain.
Here, we will discuss the extent of the problem under the topic, The Scale of the Problem.
The French Gendarmerie Nationale has been keen on following up on such cons and they have been able to pinpoint 338 websites that are posing as ticket sellers for the Olympics. Although 51 of these sites have been closed and 140 of them have been issued with lawful warnings, many of these sites are still online. These scams are not only widespread and constant but are also very convincing, meaning that fans need to be careful and wary.
Protecting Yourself from Scams
With the proliferation of fake ticket websites, fans must take proactive steps to protect themselves:
- Verify the Source: Never buy from third-party sellers or unauthorized resellers, especially from the official Olympics website. Avoid sites that brag about ‘premium’ deals or getting tickets for sold-out events.
- Check for Authenticity: When using the internet look out for the “S” at the end of the web address and a lock sign on the web page address. These signs suggest a high level of security.
- Research Before Buying: As a rule, it is better to study the site in question before making the purchase. Check comments from other users to know what kind of experience they had with a particular app. Case you find a site with many complaints and nasty comments, avoid it at all cost.
- Beware of Phishing: Avoid falling prey to scams by being vigilant when receiving emails or messages claiming to be selling Olympic tickets. Hackers, particularly the ones who are involved in phishing, may lead their targets to fake sites.
- Monitor Search Results: Take care when one is clicking on links given by the sponsored search results. Even if a site ranked high and is easily accessible, it might not necessarily be a genuine platform.
As unfortunate as it may be, it is inevitable that sometimes the criminal will end up as the victim.
Assuming you are a victim of a scam, what must you do? You should immediately notify your bank to freeze further transactions on the account, and then report the fraud to the police. It is also necessary to regularly check your credit report for any suspicious activity, and you might want to sign up for identity theft protective services.
Conclusion
The upcoming Summer Olympics are already making people worldwide look forward to it and watch sports events in Paris…But fans should also beware of fake ticket sellers. This way, you are well-prepared when it comes to understanding or encountering any frightening situation related to the Olympics; thus, your Olympic experience is nothing but fantastic. It is always advisable to buy directly from manufacturers, test the legitimacy of any source suspected of being fake, and report such cases. We can all fight these con men and safely enjoy the Olympic spirit.