- Group-IB warns of scams exploiting Celine Dion’s return to concert, with fraudsters selling duplicate Ticketmaster tickets and spoofing sites like AXS and Paris La Défense Arena
- Scammers embed themselves in Facebook fan groups and marketplaces, even using voice messages to build trust and make fake deals appear legitimate.
- Fans are advised to only purchase from official distributors, check their tickets in person if using resellers, and contact banks to dispute charges if they are scammed.
Celine Dion is back, and hackers are already trying to exploit that fact for their own financial gain, experts have warned.
A report from security researchers Group-IB claims there are many scam campaigns on the internet and social media, seeking to exploit gullible fans and steal their money.
Its aptly named report “The Scam Will Go On” says it has seen scammers lurking in Facebook groups, Facebook Marketplace and other fan-centric spaces offering concert tickets for sale. The tickets themselves, hosted on Ticketmaster, are valid. However, the scammers only have a few tickets that can be redeemed by the first person to arrive. All others will be refused entry since their tickets will have already been used.
How to avoid getting scammed
But this is not the only scam. Some people do not want to pay an unknown third party via bank transfer and prefer to purchase tickets directly from a service.
For these people, scammers have created entire websites, spoofing ticket machines such as AXS and Ticketmaster. Group-IB also spotted fake websites spoofing Céline Dion and Paris La Défense Arena, the stadium where the concert will take place.
“We see that such an event generates excitement and provides a new opportunity for fraudsters to make a fortune at the expense of unsuspecting fans,” Group-IB warned.
“Scammers are using increasingly sophisticated techniques, such as integrating into fan groups on social media and speaking directly to their victims via voice messages to make the interaction more personal and more easily gain their victims’ trust. Additionally, official ticketing platforms are being misused to make scams appear legitimate.”
The researchers recommend that fans only visit official websites and those of official distributors, and if they absolutely must purchase from a reseller, make sure they purchase a physical ticket, in person. Those who have fallen into the trap should call their bank and file an objection on their credit card.
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