French police have arrested nine people, including two employees of the Louvre Museum, as part of an investigation into what authorities describe as a large-scale ticketing fraud scheme that allegedly targeted visitors to the Paris landmark.
The arrests were carried out on Tuesday after the museum alerted law enforcement to suspected irregularities in its ticketing operations.
The Louvre confirmed it had reported concerns to police, prompting an inquiry that investigators believe uncovered an organised network operating since the summer of 2024.
“Based on the information available to the museum, we suspect the existence of a network organising large-scale fraud,” a spokeswoman for the institution said in a statement. She did not provide details of the methods allegedly used, citing the ongoing investigation.
A source familiar with the probe said two Louvre staff members were among those detained. The group also includes individuals working as tour guides, according to information reported by French daily Le Parisien. The same source said the scheme is believed to have primarily targeted members of the Chinese tourist community, though investigators are still assessing the full scope of those affected.
Authorities have not disclosed the precise mechanics of the alleged fraud. Such schemes typically involve the resale of tickets outside official channels, manipulation of booking systems or unauthorised access to reserved visitor slots.
The Louvre said it had observed a rise in fraudulent ticketing practices in recent months, prompting enhanced monitoring and cooperation with law enforcement.
The museum, the world’s most visited, receives millions of visitors each year and relies heavily on advanced online ticketing to manage access to its galleries, including those housing the Mona Lisa and other high-profile works.Timed-entry systems were expanded following the COVID-19 pandemic to regulate crowd flow and reduce waiting times.
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In response to what it described as an increase and diversification in ticket fraud, the Louvre said it had introduced a structured anti-fraud plan developed jointly with staff and police.
Measures include tighter oversight of reservations, internal audits and reinforced security protocols. The institution did not say when those steps were first implemented.
French police have not publicly identified the suspects or outlined potential charges. Under French law, individuals under investigation are presumed innocent until proven guilty. It was not immediately clear whether the detained Louvre employees remain in custody or have been placed under formal investigation by a magistrate.
The case emerges during a period of heightened scrutiny for the museum’s management and security procedures. In October, four suspects allegedly carried out a high-value theft at the Louvre, taking jewellery estimated to be worth €85 million.
Authorities subsequently arrested four individuals believed to be involved in that robbery, though the stolen items have not been recovered.
That incident, combined with labour unrest among museum staff, has placed the institution under sustained public attention.
In recent months, trade unions representing Louvre employees have organised several strike days, calling for additional hiring, higher wages and improved maintenance of the former royal palace, which spans more than 72,000 square metres of exhibition space.
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Union representatives have argued that staffing levels are insufficient to manage visitor numbers and ensure proper oversight of facilities.
Museum management has acknowledged operational pressures linked to record attendance but has not indicated that those concerns are directly connected to the ticketing investigation.
The Louvre operates under the authority of France’s Culture Ministry and is overseen by a president-director appointed by the government. It has increasingly turned to digital systems to manage admissions, particularly as tourism to Paris has rebounded strongly in 2023 and 2024.
The suspected fraud network is believed to have exploited that high demand. Investigators are examining whether tickets were obtained through internal access, third-party intermediaries or coordinated group bookings.
It remains unclear how much money may have been diverted or how many visitors were affected.
Chinese tourists represent a significant share of visitors to major European cultural institutions, and Paris has long been a leading destination for organised tour groups from China.
French authorities have not said whether any victims have filed complaints. The Louvre said it would continue to cooperate fully with investigators and review its procedures as necessary. Further details are expected as the judicial inquiry progresses.
Under France’s legal system, a judge may decide in the coming days whether to place the suspects under formal investigation, release them under supervision or pursue additional lines of inquiry.
