Dozens defrauded in online ticket scams
Around sixty people have reported being victims of ticket scams linked to the Oques Grasses concerts held in early October at the Olympic Stadium in Barcelona. The Mossos d'Esquadra, Catalonia's regional police, say the true number of victims is likely much higher, as many have not come forward due to embarrassment. Roger Sales, head of the Virtual Police Region of the Mossos, told EFE that the reported cases do not reflect the full scale of the fraud. The Central Unit for Cyber Scams has opened an investigation to identify those responsible.
How the scams unfolded
The frauds occurred primarily through two methods. The first involved social media platforms such as Instagram, TikTok, and X, where scammers directly offered fake tickets for the concerts. In most cases, payments were made via Bizum, a mobile payment app widely used in Spain. The second method used a fraudulent website with a name similar to that of a legitimate ticket sales platform. In other cases, criminals operated on genuine platforms but tricked buyers into making payments outside official channels, usually via bank transfer or by sharing card details, thereby bypassing buyer protections.
These figures do not reflect the "reality of the phenomenon" or its "magnitude", says Roger Sales, head of the Virtual Police Region.
The Mossos believe the frauds may have been carried out by individuals exploiting the event's popularity, or by small organised groups specialising in digital scams. They have not yet quantified the total amount stolen.
Victim loses €1,500 in account breach
One case involved Anna Maranges, a 28-year-old woman from Viella living in Santa Cruz de Tenerife in the Canary Islands. She reported losing €1,500 after attempting to resell two tickets for the 5 October concert. She had agreed to sell the tickets via Bizum, but the buyer insisted on using the ticket platform where she had listed them. Maranges received a text message with a link that appeared to be from the platform, requesting her bank details to receive payment. After entering her information, she did not receive the money. Instead, unauthorised charges began appearing on her card, totalling €1,500. Her case is among those now under investigation.
What this means for you
Residents and visitors are urged to remain cautious when buying event tickets online, especially through social media or third-party sellers. Always use official vendors and avoid sharing bank details or clicking unsolicited links. For more information on safe ticket purchasing, visit the official Mossos advice portal.
Reported by vilaweb.cat, EFE, elperiodico.com, larazon.es, rac1.cat, Guillem RS, VilaWeb Feed.
