Experts flag new scam targeting fans seeking Celine Dion concert tickets

Group-IB warns of scams exploiting Celine Dion’s concert comeback, with fraudsters selling duplicate Ticketmaster tickets and spoofing sites such as 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 offers appear legitimate
Fans are advised to only buy from official distributors, confirm tickets in person if using resellers, and contact banks to dispute charges if defrauded

Celine Dion is back and hackers are already trying to exploit this fact for their own financial gain, experts have warned.

A report by security researchers Group-IB has claimed that there are numerous scam campaigns all over the internet and social media that seek to exploit gullible fans and steal their money.

Its aptly named “The Scam Will Go On” report said it saw 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, which can be redeemed by the first person to arrive at the venue. All others will be denied entry as their tickets will already be used.

How to avoid being cheated

But that’s not the only scam. Some people don’t want to pay an unknown third party over the wire and prefer to buy the tickets directly from a service.

For these people, the scammers created entire websites, spoofing ticket distributors like AXS and Ticketmaster. Group-IB also saw fake websites impersonating Celine Dion and Paris La Défense Arena, the stadium where the concert will take place.

“We see that such an event generates excitement and gives fraudsters another opportunity to make a fortune at the expense of unsuspecting fans,” Group-IB warned.

“Fraudsters are using increasingly sophisticated techniques, such as embedding themselves in social network fan groups and speaking directly to their victims via voice messages, to make the interaction more personal and more easily gain their victims’ trust. Furthermore, official ticketing platforms are being misused to make scams appear legitimate.”

The researchers recommend that fans only visit official websites and official distributors’ websites, and if they absolutely must buy from a retailer, to make sure they buy a physical ticket in person. Those who fell for the scam should call their bank and dispute their credit card.