Wild ticket resale tactics emerge ahead of Arsenal vs PSG Champions League final

There’s a massive scam operation on X. On WhatsApp groups, it’s surprisingly organized — almost like a real ticket sales company.

— Martin, a Parisian supporter

Tickets soaring to €115,000 — but danger lurks in the shadows

Prices on the black market have spiraled out of control. “On WhatsApp groups, you won’t find any ticket below €2,000. And that’s just the starting price,” says a Parisian supporter who traveled to Budapest to cheer on his team. Platforms like Fan Pass and SeatPick have seen listings skyrocket to as high as €115,000 — a far cry from the €70 to €950 range set by UEFA for this year’s final.

While some resale platforms offer secure transactions, social media listings are a different story. “There’s a massive system where season ticket holders buy dozens of tickets just to resell them at inflated prices. They’re taking advantage of the hype and the one-off nature of this match. It’s a full-blown parallel black market,” explains Martin, a Parisian supporter who, after failing to secure a ticket, settled for watching the match on a giant screen at Parc des Princes.

But the dangers don’t end there. Martin himself fell victim to a scam on X. “We contacted someone who posted an ad. After a few messages, they asked for our IBAN and details. We sent the payment, and then the seller vanished as soon as the transfer went through,” he recalls.

Even with the naked eye, red flags are hard to spot. On closer inspection, a telltale sign emerges: the screenshot of the ticket includes the logo of Gemini, Google’s AI assistant. A clear indicator of fraud. “Scams are rampant on X, but WhatsApp groups are surprisingly organized — almost like a legitimate ticketing company,” Martin adds.

UEFA tightens security — but new loopholes appear

In response, UEFA has locked down its ticketing system to prevent counterfeit tickets from circulating. Gone are the days of paper tickets or PDFs sent by email. Now, tickets are only accessible via the UEFA Mobile Tickets app. The governing body warns supporters that “screenshots of mobile tickets are not valid” and that anyone attempting to enter the stadium with one will be denied.

The system goes even further: tickets are tied directly to the phone on which they were downloaded. Sharing accounts is strictly prohibited, as “only the device used to download the mobile ticket will grant access to the stadium,” UEFA states.

It’s hard to know who’s behind these operations. Is it a single person or an organized group? Either way, it’s unsettling. You start wondering where all that money is actually going.

— Martin, a Parisian supporter

When tickets come with a phone — a new twist in the resale game

The latest tactic in this cat-and-mouse game? Selling the ticket with the phone it’s locked to. “I’ve never seen anything like it. It’s completely new,” says Martin, who ultimately found a ticket for the Parc des Princes match via WhatsApp. Sellers now offer packages: ticket plus smartphone, either bundled together or with an extra fee.

In these cases, buyers face a dilemma: meet the seller in person to hand over the phone, or trust them and receive the device by mail. For Martin, the latter is too risky. Even so, the tactic has already lured many buyers, as evidenced by numerous posts across social platforms.

Behind this black-market frenzy, a troubling question lingers: who are the people profiting from these exorbitant sales? “It’s hard to tell if it’s one person or a full organization. Either way, it’s unsettling. You can’t help but wonder what happens to all that money,” Martin concludes, having finally secured a ticket for the Parc des Princes match — through WhatsApp, of course.