Question 1

What is the "Oktoberfest Ticket Fraud" scam in Munich?

Accepted Answer

Counterfeit or invalid Oktoberfest tent reservation tickets are sold online and by street touts near Theresienwiese before and during the festival. Scammers create convincing fake reservation confirmations for sold-out tents like Hofbräu-Festzelt and Schottenhamel and charge premium prices. Victims arrive at the festival to find their tickets rejected at the entrance with no recourse. Official tent reservations are only available directly through each tent's official website months in advance. Only purchase tent reservations directly from the official Oktoberfest tent websites — links are listed on the official munich.de Oktoberfest page. Never buy reservations from third-party resellers, Craigslist-style listings, or individuals near the festival grounds.

Question 2

What is the "Neuschwanstein Fake "Official" Tour Operators" scam in Munich?

Accepted Answer

Near the Hohenschwangau village at the base of Neuschwanstein Castle, and in Munich city, unauthorized vendors sell tours to the castle marketed as "official" or "skip-the-line" packages. These packages often include admission tickets purchased in advance at face value (or slightly above) but charge a significant premium for perceived convenience. Some "tickets" are not valid or are for the wrong time slot, resulting in denied entry. Purchase Neuschwanstein tickets only from the official Ticket Center Hohenschwangau at the base of the hill or from the official website (hohenschwangau.de). There is no legitimate "skip-the-line" program — all visitors queue at the same ticket office.

Question 3

What is the "Bayern Munich Match Ticket Fraud" scam in Munich?

Accepted Answer

Unauthorized resellers and online fraudsters sell counterfeit or invalid FC Bayern Munich match tickets near the Allianz Arena and through third-party websites at inflated or "below face value" prices. Victims arrive on match day to find their tickets rejected at the turnstile, with no recourse and no official support available. The club explicitly warns that tickets purchased from platforms such as viagogo, StubHub, or eBay are frequently invalid, stolen, or duplicated, and have been found to result in denied entry. Purchase FC Bayern Munich tickets exclusively through the official Bayern Munich ticket portal (fcbayern.com) or their authorized resale platform. Avoid any third-party marketplace ticket offers regardless of stated legitimacy. If a match is sold out, do not buy from touts outside the stadium — Bayern München U-Bahn station and the arena gates are known locations for illegal ticket activity on match days.

Tour & Activity Scams in Munich

Oktoberfest Ticket Fraud

Neuschwanstein Fake "Official" Tour Operators

Bayern Munich Match Ticket Fraud

Experienced a scam here?