Festival Ticket & Camping Scam on Facebook Groups
Scammers use official-sounding festival fan and 'buy/sell/trade' Facebook Groups to sell bundled ticket-and-camping packages that never materialize.
Part of: Festival Ticket & Camping Pass Scam
Last reviewed: 5 July 2026
Most people trading tickets and camping passes in festival Facebook Groups are genuine fans, and many informal handovers between strangers go fine, so a scam listing can hide in plain sight. Fraudsters post ticket-and-camping bundles aimed at buyers who missed the on-sale, leaning on the group's approval-gated, insider feel as implied vetting, then ask for full payment upfront by bank transfer or payment app to secure the campsite spot. The distinction that matters most: joining a group takes minutes and proves nothing, and only the festival's official transfer or resale channel can confirm a ticket is real before the gate.
How this scam works on Facebook Groups
A scammer joins the official or fan-run festival Facebook Group and posts a package deal combining a general admission or VIP ticket with a camping pass or pre-set-up tent, priced attractively for buyers who missed the original on-sale. Because the group itself feels vetted — often requiring approval to join, and full of genuine festival-goers discussing lineup details — a scam listing can hide in plain sight among legitimate trades.
The scammer typically asks for full payment upfront via a payment app or bank transfer, citing 'securing the campsite spot' as the reason funds are needed immediately, then either stops responding as the festival approaches or shows up with excuses about a mix-up. Because camping passes and ticket transfers are often handled informally between fans even in legitimate trades, buyers have little way to verify the offer is real until they are standing at the gate with nothing valid in hand.
Common red flags
- Seller is a relatively new member of the Facebook Group with little post history in it
- Bundle price for ticket plus camping is unusually low compared to official packages
- Seller demands full payment immediately to 'lock in' a campsite spot
- No willingness to use the festival's official ticket transfer or camping reservation system
- Seller avoids specific questions about which campsite section or transfer method will be used
- Pressure to pay via bank transfer or a payment app with no dispute protection
How to protect yourself
- Buy tickets and camping passes only through the festival's official site or authorized resale partner
- Check how long the seller has been an active member of the group and whether others vouch for them
- Ask for the official transfer or reservation confirmation before sending any payment
- Use a payment method with buyer protection, and avoid bank transfers to unverified individuals
- Request a video call to confirm the seller's identity and the ticket or camping confirmation details
- Post in the group asking if anyone can vouch for the seller before completing the trade
How to report it
- Report the post and the seller to the Facebook Group's admins so they can remove it and warn others
- Report the account to Facebook directly through the platform's reporting tool
- File a complaint with the FTC or the FBI's IC3 (ic3.gov) if payment was sent
- Notify the festival's official social accounts so they can post a public warning to attendees
Frequently asked questions
How do I know if a Facebook Group for a festival is officially run?
Check whether the group is linked from the festival's own verified website or social accounts, since fan-run groups can look identical to official ones. Even in an official group, individual members posting trades aren't vetted by the festival itself.
Can group admins guarantee a trade is legitimate?
No — admins can remove bad actors after the fact and warn other members, but they generally can't verify in advance that a member actually holds the ticket or camping pass they're offering. Treat admin approval to join the group as separate from any endorsement of individual sellers.
Is it safer to buy a ticket-and-camping bundle than a ticket alone in these groups?
Not necessarily — bundling a hard-to-verify camping pass with a ticket gives a scammer more moving pieces to fake and more money to collect upfront. Ask for each part to be confirmed or transferred separately through official channels before paying for the whole package.
Are festival Facebook Groups safe for buying tickets?
They can help you find legitimate trades from real attendees, but group membership alone does not verify any individual seller. Always confirm the offer through the festival's official transfer or reservation system before paying.
What should I do if I already paid for a fake camping bundle?
Contact your payment provider immediately to attempt a reversal, report the seller to the group admins and Facebook, and file a report with consumer protection authorities so the pattern is documented.