Question 1

What is the "Fake Guelaguetza Festival Ticket Sellers" scam in Oaxaca?

Accepted Answer

In the weeks leading up to and during the Guelaguetza festival in July, unauthorized vendors sell counterfeit or non-existent tickets outside the Auditorio Guelaguetza on Cerro del Fortin hill and near the Zocalo. Prices are pitched as discounted official seats but the tickets are either invalid or duplicate entries already sold to other buyers. Victims discover the fraud only at the gate and are left without seats during one of the most sought-after events in Oaxaca. Purchase Guelaguetza tickets exclusively from the official government box office at the Palacio de Gobierno on the Zocalo, or through the verified state tourism portal. Verify the ticket has a holographic seal and QR code, and scan it before leaving the seller.

Question 2

What is the "Fake Handicraft Souvenirs" scam in Oaxaca?

Accepted Answer

Vendors near Monte Albán and the Zócalo sell mass-produced crafts falsely labeled as handmade Zapotec textiles or genuine black clay (barro negro) pottery. Buy from certified artisan cooperatives or the MARO cooperative market. Ask about the maker and technique.

Street Scams in Oaxaca

Fake Guelaguetza Festival Ticket Sellers

Fake Handicraft Souvenirs

Experienced a scam here?