Buying tickets on a website that isn’t ours or an official distributor is risky business. Fraud is rife, and the worst thing that can happen is that you won’t be able to attend the show.
Fraudulent sales sites are often well-referenced on search engines, and rank in the top positions.
In France, the law of March 12, 2012 prohibits the resale of show tickets without the authorization of the producer, an essential first step, in that it allows for the sanctioning of illicit resale practices found on these platforms.
HERE ARE A FEW TIPS TO HELP YOU AVOID BEING TAKEN IN BY ONE OF THESE SITES:
- DON’T RELY ON SEARCH ENGINES
When you’re looking for show tickets on the Internet, search engines don’t necessarily give priority to authorized sites, but to those that invest the most in web referencing, via the purchase of keywords.
- SEARCH FOR OFFICIAL SITES
The most reliable way to buy tickets is to go to the producer’s or venue’s website. The show producer’s license number and/or name appear on tickets and posters.
- BEWARE OF SHADY SITES
It’s true that it’s disappointing not to get tickets for the show you’ve been waiting for. Especially if you see hundreds of tickets for the show for sale on other, unofficial websites. Think before you act. These sales are put on line by people looking to maximize their profits. Don’t be seduced by their marketing techniques, which are designed to make you fall in love with them. Any seller, particularly on the internet, who habitually sells tickets for shows without the producer’s authorization is guilty of the offence set out in article 313-6-2 of the penal code (law n°2012-348 of March 12, 2012). Failure to comply with this article is punishable by a fine of 15,000 euros. This penalty is increased to a fine of 30,000 euros in the event of a repeat offence.
- DEFEND YOURSELF!
Have you been the victim of an unauthorized vendor (bills not received, counterfeit bills, etc.)? You can take legal action against the unauthorized reseller to obtain compensation for your loss. You can contact the DDPP (Direction Départementale de la Protection des Populations). In each département, the DDPP is staffed by officers authorized to investigate and report breaches of the Consumer Code or the Law on Confidence in the Digital Economy. If you wish, you can join in the criminal proceedings initiated by the Public Prosecutor by filing a civil action. www.economie-gouv.fr/dgccrf
- FILE A COMPLAINT!
The unauthorized seller’s behavior may fall within the scope of other criminal offenses, notably fraud (article 313-1 of the French Penal Code) or deception (article L. 213-1 of the French Consumer Code). These sites also frequently fail to comply with the mandatory legal provisions governing distance selling (article l.121-16 et seq. of the French Consumer Code) or e-commerce (article 6-III.-1 of the June 21, 2004 law on confidence in the economy). You can lodge a complaint on these grounds with your local police station or gendarmerie.
HAVE YOU BEEN A VICTIM OF FRAUD?
Go to the following link to register a pre-complaint online: https://www.service-public.fr/particuliers/vosdroits/R19620?lang=en
This service enables you to make a declaration of damage to property (theft, damage, fraud, etc.) of which you are a victim and for which you do not know the identity of the perpetrator.
For more information on the sale and resale of illegal tickets, visit the FanPasGogo website: https://fanpasgogo.fr/
