Ticket fraud spikes for World Cup 2026 and high‑profile concerts

Authorities and cybersecurity experts warn that online scams targeting high‑demand events are proliferating. For the 2026 FIFA World Cup, to be held in the United States, Mexico and Canada, fraudulent websites mimic FIFA’s branding to sell counterfeit tickets, fake merchandise, bogus job offers and harvest personal data. The FBI has listed dozens of deceptive sites, and researchers have identified thousands of suspicious domains since August.

Similar schemes are affecting major music events in Europe. Fans seeking tickets for Bad Bunny’s July shows and Céline Dion’s performances at Paris’s La Défense Arena are being approached on social media and via fake ticket‑sale sites that pose as official vendors. The scams employ convincing branding and recent domain registrations, making verification difficult for consumers.

Officials in the host nations and in France advise fans to use only authorized sales channels, scrutinise website URLs and treat unusually low‑priced offers with suspicion.