Thousands fall for ticket scam on fake website launched by Dutch police
By Simone Jacobs
Several people in the Netherlands have fallen for a ticket scam on a fake website created by Dutch police. The website, TicketBewust.nl, was created as a way to warn residents about ticket fraud and provide tips to avoid being scammed.
Dutch police raise ticket fraud awareness with fake website
After trying to find tickets to a sold-out concert or football match, many people fall for scams when they buy tickets on the internet from sites that make promises too good to be true. Police in the Netherlands have launched their own fake website, TicketBewust.nl, in an attempt to make people more aware of ticket fraud.
"The fake website was created because we see how clever and convincing scammers operate," said team leader of the National Internet Fraud Reporting Centre (LMIO) Gijs van der Linden in a news release. "Scammers are shrewd: that coveted ticket suddenly appears available. You want to strike quickly, and they use that very moment to rip you off. We don't want to mislead people, but to raise awareness. Because this can happen to anyone.”
The website uses the same tricks that scam websites use. "The offers on the site are too good to be true," explains Van der Linden. "For example, we only “sell” tickets to sold-out concerts. For observant visitors, there are also other hidden clues that it's a fake webshop. For example, people can check the Chamber of Commerce (KVK) number or the address.”
More than 3.000 fall for police’s fake ticket website
Created in collaboration with the Fraud Help Desk, online marketplace Marktplaats and other social partners, people were lured to the website through advertisements on Marktplaats. On the TicketBewust.nl website, “exclusive tickets for sold-out events” were available at the “best price”.
Tickets for concerts featuring the likes of Lady Gaga, Typhoon and Roxy Dekker were advertised, as well as popular Ajax football matches. Between October 30, 2025 and January 11, 2026, over 30.000 people clicked on the Marktplaats ads, and 7.402 were led to the fake website. 3.432 people tried to purchase tickets, despite signs that the website wasn’t genuine.
Victims who fall for the police’s fake website and click on a link to purchase a ticket are taken to a page with tips to avoid becoming a victim of ticket fraud. To avoid being caught out, you should always use the event organiser’s website or check the KVK number of a website before purchasing tickets. For more tips, visit the Fraud Help Desk.
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Editor for the Netherlands at IamExpat Media. Simone studied Genetics and Zoology at the University of Pretoria in South Africa before moving to the Netherlands, where she has been working as a writer and editor since 2022. One thing she loves more than creating content is consuming it, mainly by reading books by the dozen. Other than being a book dragon, she is also a nature lover and enjoys hiking and animal training. Read more