Ticket Scam Costs the Louvre $12 Million, Investigators Say

The Paris prosecutor's office announced on February 16, 2026, that a network involving museum employees and tour guides had been operating a ticket scam at the Louvre Museum for over a decade. The scam, which also occurred at Versailles Palace, resulted in a loss of $12 million for the museum. ^[2]

The investigation, which is ongoing, has revealed that the network used fake tickets and exploited the museum's ticketing system to sell fake tickets to unsuspecting visitors. The scam was reportedly carried out by a group of individuals who worked at the museum and had access to the ticketing system.

The Louvre Museum has taken steps to prevent similar scams in the future, including increasing security measures and implementing new ticketing systems. The museum has also apologized to visitors who were affected by the scam and has offered refunds to those who purchased fake tickets.

The ticket scam is a significant blow to the Louvre Museum, which is one of the most visited museums in the world. The museum relies heavily on ticket sales to fund its operations and maintain its collections.

The investigation into the ticket scam is ongoing, and it is unclear how many people were involved in the scam or how much money was lost. However, the incident highlights the need for museums to take steps to prevent similar scams and protect their visitors.

Sources

[1] Every Title Leaving Xbox Game Pass on February 28
[2] Ticket Scam Cost the Louvre $12 Million, Investigators Say
[3] Insomniac Responds to Question About Bringing Marvel’s Spider-Man to Xbox