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Louvre Ticket Scam

This is so horrible. According to the article, the scam was originated by several Louvre employees and some tour guides. The Louvre is estimated to have lost over 12 million.

The Paris prosecutor’s office said that a network involving museum employees and tour guides had been operating for a decade. Investigators also believe the fraud occurred at Versailles Palace.

https://www.nytimes.com/2026/02/16/arts/louvre-museum-ticket-scam-arrests.html?unlocked_article_code=1.MlA.Pg7l.7bS-TZ2nEWEH&smid=url-share (unlocked gifted article)

Posted by
16674 posts

This is a different article that what was posted before but....my opinion is still the same.

I am surprised this continued to happen.

In August 2019 the Paris Museum Pass rules changed allowing only one visit per venue per Pass whereas before before you could enter the same museum multiple times. At that time it was announced that it was because big Asian groups were passing Museum Passes off to subsequent groups so they were cheating the system then.

I can't believe after 7 years this continues to happen and the Louvre officials were not aware of it?

This article says that "difficulties in checking tickets that have been purchased online when visitors go through and enter the museum." How can that be? You have to scan your bar code on entry. Does it not block you if you've been in that entrance before? IF they knew there were difficulties in checking tickets why was there not an intervention? EVERY time I've gone in there have been multiple people in each kiosk looking at people scanning their tickets. I went in 3X in October. Not this last time but previously I've seen people denied entry to a wing because the scanner could not read their paper ticket print out bar codes.

Posted by
11296 posts

Oops, Mary, I missed it—I did search but I thought it was brand new so i didn't go back as far as I should have.

Pam, I agree that the Louvre is not looking good right now in terms of security, both with this and then the robbery and so on. It's really a shame, but they need to get their act together. Of course, I'm sure that's easier said than done.

Posted by
16674 posts

Yes to the security issues and then there are the infrastructure problems as well with roof leaks and all sorts of issues. I realize it's an old building but it doesn't even sound like the roof has been tended to.

IF they've lost 12 million, that surely would have gone a way toward that, lol! Interesting, too, that the article says they've seized 1.5 million.

Posted by
2425 posts

This just breaks my heart. So many of us love that museum. It has really been having a tough time.