Nine Charged in Major Ticket Fraud Scheme at the Louvre

Nine individuals have been formally charged in a significant ticketing fraud case at the Louvre, with one suspect placed in provisional detention, according to the Paris prosecutor's office. The investigation revealed a decade-long scheme involving the fraudulent entry of approximately 20 groups of Chinese tourists daily, resulting in an estimated loss exceeding 10 million euros for the museum. The accused faces serious charges including organized fraud, use of false documents, active corruption, aggravated money laundering, and participation in a criminal association.

The case began in August 2024 after an internal report exposed fake tour guides bribing cashiers to admit groups without proper ticket checks. Two Louvre cashiers implicated in the scam were suspended and arrested. The network appeared to reuse tickets for different visitors and manipulated the entry system, complicating detection amid over eight million annual visitors. Authorities have seized over 957,000 euros in cash and 486,000 euros from bank accounts linked to the scheme.

This fraud comes amid other recent challenges for the Louvre, including a major theft of eight crown jewels in October 2025, the closure of a gallery due to damages, and ongoing staff strikes over working conditions. Police suspect the fraud network may have also operated at the Palace of Versailles, though Versailles officials declined to comment.

The Louvre, which typically receives 30,000 visitors daily and generates around 100 million euros annually from ticket sales, describes this as an unprecedented fraud case. The ongoing investigation is expected to lead to further arrests within museum staff as authorities work to fully dismantle the criminal network.