Regina Doherty MEP has said the European Union must step up enforcement of existing consumer protections following the shocking Electric Picnic ticket scam that has left hundreds of music fans out of pocket.
The Dublin politician, who sits on the European Parliament’s Consumer Protection Committee, described the scam as “shameful”, saying many young people had saved up for months only to find themselves conned.
“This Electric Picnic scam is a shameful. People, many of them young, saved up and handed over their money in good faith only to discover they had been conned.
“That is simply unacceptable. The EU has a responsibility to ensure consumers are properly protected,” she said.
Doherty urged festival-goers and music fans to be extremely cautious when buying tickets online, stressing the importance of verifying sources before parting with money.
She outlined three key EU priorities she wants to see acted on: stricter oversight of ticket resale platforms, robust enforcement of the Digital Services Act to force platforms to remove scam ads, and clear transparency rules to ensure booking fees and final prices are displayed upfront.
“Consumers need safeguards that prevent these scams in the first place and when fraudsters are caught, people must have clear routes to get their money back. That is the bare minimum,” Doherty said.
She reminded the public that under Irish law, reselling tickets above face value is already illegal.
The Sale of Tickets Act 2021 carries penalties of up to €100,000 or two years in prison for breaches.
Warning that scams are not confined to Ireland, Doherty said: “Scammers don’t stop at borders. If someone in Dublin can be conned online, then the same trick can be used in Paris, Berlin or Madrid.
“That’s why we have EU-wide laws in this area to protect people equally.”
She confirmed she will raise the issue again when the Parliament resumes in September, pushing for stronger consumer rights legislation that closes loopholes and puts the burden on platforms to protect buyers.
“Festivalgoers should look forward to the music, not worry about being fleeced. It’s time the EU made clear that it will protect consumers and shut down rip-off merchants,” she said.