Wilhelmsburg Man Sentenced for Fraudulent Sale of Euro 2024 Tickets

In a recent legal case, a resident of Wilhelmsburg has been handed a suspended sentence after engaging in fraudulent activities involving the sale of tickets for the upcoming Euro 2024 football tournament in Germany. The demand for tickets to support the Austrian national team has been extraordinarily high, leading many fans to seek tickets through various platforms, including the online marketplace Willhaben.

The individual, a 46-year-old long-term unemployed man, took advantage of this demand by listing tickets for multiple Euro 2024 matches on Willhaben. He successfully collected payments from numerous buyers but ultimately failed to deliver any tickets. This prompted victims from the Tulln and Vienna areas, including one from Neulengbach, to alert the authorities, leading to an investigation by the Altlengbach police.

Investigators discovered that between December 2023 and February 2024, the accused sold tickets to approximately 30 individuals at a price of EUR30 each, despite being aware that he could not actually secure such a large number of tickets. During his police interrogation, he was unable to provide any evidence of legitimate ticket reservations, which further substantiated the fraudulent nature of his actions.

As a result of his deceptive practices, the man was recently sentenced to an 18-month probationary period, which is contingent on a three-year supervised release. In addition, he is required to reimburse the victims a total of around EUR3,000 for the undelivered tickets.

This case serves as a stark reminder of the risks associated with purchasing tickets from unofficial sources, particularly during high-demand events. Authorities continue to urge fans to buy tickets exclusively from authorized vendors to avoid falling victim to scams.