César Israel Damián Retes, a deputy from the PAN party in Mexico, has introduced a proposal to amend the Federal Penal Code and the Federal Law Against Organized Crime. This initiative aims to specifically target fraud related to the sale of fake tickets for mass events. Retes advocates for imposing prison sentences ranging from three to seven years and fines varying from 500 to 5,000 times the Unit of Measurement and Update (UMA) for offenders. The proposal has been forwarded to the Justice Commission for further consideration.

The suggested legal reform involves adding Article 386 Bis to the Federal Penal Code, which would criminalize the act of knowingly offering, distributing, or selling tickets for events without proper authorization from the event organizer or the relevant ticketing company. Additionally, the proposal includes harsher penalties for fraud committed through digital platforms or electronic means. Under these circumstances, the imprisonment term could increase by up to 50%, reflecting a growing recognition of the risks associated with online ticket sales and the ease of perpetrating such fraud.

This initiative underscores the Mexican government’s commitment to tackling fraud in the entertainment industry, particularly as mass events are becoming increasingly popular. If passed, this law would not only provide a deterrent against the sale of counterfeit tickets but also enhance consumer protection rights. Such reforms are crucial as they aim to create a safer and more reliable environment for attendees of large-scale events in Mexico, ensuring that organizers and legitimate ticket sellers can operate without the threat of fraud undermining their efforts.