DNSC warns that more and more Romanians are at risk of buying fake tickets for New Year’s Eve concerts and parties. Duplicate QR codes, ghost pages and made-up events appear especially during last-minute announcements.
New Year’s Eve party. Photo: Shutterstock
The end of the year brings the usual flurry of announcements for concerts, festivals and New Year’s Eve parties. The National Cyber Security Directorate says many of these ads are used by scammers who are taking advantage of your desire to snag a seat at a sold-out event. Invalid tickets, duplicate QR codes and non-existent events are the most common consequences.
Specialists explain that scammers operate simply
Scammers create fake pages, freshly made social media accounts or post in sales groups. There they display tickets at prices that seem attractive and demand quick payment. Many Romanians only discover at the location that their ticket does not appear in the system or that the same QR code has been sold to someone else.
To avoid problems, DNSC recommends a number of useful checks before any online purchase.
Tips for buying tickets safely:
- Buy tickets only on official platforms or directly from the organizer’s website.
- Carefully check the profiles of people selling tickets privately.
- Avoid advance payments to personal accounts.
- Be careful of tickets sent as a print screen.
- Keep the discussions with the sellers on the platform where you purchase the ticket.
- Use a temporary or virtual card for low-limit online payments.
- Check the domain, URL, and security features of the site where you enter your payment details.
- Read reviews from other customers and see if they are from real people.
- Report suspicious ads on the pnrisc.dnsc.ro and infocons.ro platforms.
DNSC is currently working with InfoCons to support consumers buying tickets or services online and to reduce the risks associated with digital fraud. The objective of the two institutions is for Romanians to make their holiday plans safely and avoid unpleasant situations on New Year’s Eve.
What is InfoCons
InfoCons is a consumer protection organization that provides useful information, comparative tests, education campaigns and tools for you to check suspicious products, services or ads. The organization supports consumers to make informed decisions, avoid fraud and report deceptive business practices. InfoCons collaborates with public institutions and provides platforms where you can quickly report any attempted fraud in the online environment.
