Electric Picnic denies fake wristbands detected at Laois festival

The Electric Picnic has denied the existence of fake wristbands following this year’s festival. 

In a scam thought to have netted tens of thousands of euro, the Leinster Express understands hundreds of fake wristbands were sold to people looking to attend the Electric Picnic at the weekend.

It’s estimated that up to 300 people who were caught wearing the fake wristbands were ejected from the festival in Stradbally.

A spokesperson for the Electric Picnic denied the existence of fake bands at this year’s event. “This isn’t true,” the spokesperson said.  

The Leinster Express understands the bands, which looked similar to the official wristbands, were being sold to people in carparks and around the Stradbally area during the festival. 

It’s unclear how whoever was responsible for selling the bands knew in advance what this year’s wristbands looked like. However, they are believed to have purchased similar looking bands online prior to the festival. 

Unfortunate festivalgoers who bought the fake bands were denied access to the festival. It’s not clear how much was being charged for the individual bands, but it’s believed the fraudulent sales would have resulted in the loss in tens of thousands of euro to unsuspecting buyers.  

It’s the second major scam to have occurred around this year’s festival. 

Last month Gardai issued a warning to people looking to buy tickets for the soldout event after a large number of people complained about a seller. The complaints sparked an investigation by Laois Gardaí into the fraudulent selling of Electric Picnic tickets which were reported to be in the region of €100,000. 

“We are currently investigating alleged incidents of online fraud (alleged resale of event tickets) that are believed to have occurred in recent weeks.

If you may have been a victim of online fraud, please report it to us at your local Garda Station in person or by phone, or alternatively call the Freephone Garda Confidential Line: 1800 666 111,” Gardaí said at the time. 

The incident prompted MEP Regina Doherty to enforce existing protections for consumers.  

“People, many of them young, saved up and handed over their money in good faith only to discover they had been conned. That is simply unacceptable. The EU has a responsibility to ensure consumers are properly protected" Doherty said.

She confirmed she would raise the issue of online scams again when the Parliament resumes in September, pushing for stronger consumer rights legislation that closes loopholes and puts the burden on platforms to protect buyers.

"Festivalgoers should look forward to the music, not worry about being fleeced. It's time the EU made clear that it will protect consumers and shut down rip-off merchants,” she remarked.