French police arrested nine suspects in a ticket fraud scheme that allegedly cost the Louvre $12 million. The scandal adds to a string of recent security and infrastructure issues at the museum.
The Louvre has a new scandal in the headlines. The French museum uncovered a ticket scam in 2024 that may have cost it $12 million over a decade, according to recent reports. Police arrested nine people last week who may have been involved in running the scam and laundering money. It is the latest blow in a series of events that have plagued the popular museum in recent months.
The ticket scam came to light after the museum filed a complaint in December 2024 alleging that Chinese tour guides were reusing tickets for different visitors. Other guides were reportedly participating in similar practices. Authorities suspect the tour guides brought in up to 20 tours a day and used the same tickets for multiple individuals. They also allegedly bribed museum employees with cash to avoid ticket checks and split up groups to avoid paying additional fees.
Last year, a judicial investigation was opened on multiple charges, including organized fraud, corruption, money laundering, the use of forged administrative documents, and aiding illegal entry into the country as part of an organized group. Investigators seized $1 million in cash and $500,000 from bank accounts. It is also suspected that the suspects invested money in real estate in France and Dubai.
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In total, the museum lost more than $12 million over a decade due to the scheme. The Louvre acknowledged it was facing multiple ticket fraud cases and said it has worked with police and staff on an anti-fraud plan.
Two Louvre employees, multiple tour guides and one individual believed to be the mastermind were arrested. One person remains in custody, while the others have been released under strict conditions.
A Series of Tragedies
It has been a difficult few months for the Louvre. In October, the art world was rocked by a brazen daytime heist at the world-famous museum. Thieves made off with valuable imperial pieces worth $100 million after just four minutes inside the museum, reportedly using a mechanical lift. The incident was deeply embarrassing for the museum and the country. The jewels — apart from a crown that the thieves dropped — have not been recovered.
In the coming years, the Louvre will undergo renovations to address several issues, French President Emmanuel Macron announced last year. The Mona Lisa will be moved to another room to give visitors a chance to see the painting without crowding, and failing infrastructure will be improved. To help fund the more than $1 billion renovation, the Louvre has begun charging non-EU visitors higher admission fees this year, prompting labor unions to strike in protest.
Employees who say they are understaffed and overworked have been vocal about their working conditions. The museum shut down multiple times last month after trade unions staged walkouts. They have also raised concerns about security lapses and infrastructure problems.
In November, a water leak at the world’s most visited museum damaged between 300 and 400 pieces, mostly books. It was later revealed that the cause of the leak had been known for years. Meanwhile, a structural issue prompted the closure of a gallery housing Greek vases and offices. This month, another leak from a heating pipe damaged a 19th-century ceiling painting by Charles Meynier.
The Louvre welcomes more than 9 million visitors each year, the majority of them foreign nationals.
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