Festival-goers heading to EDC 2026 are sounding urgent warnings about a rising scam involving point-of-sale (POS) terminals used by bartenders, food vendors, and shuttle services. Reports from the community indicate that some transactions are being prematurely closed by vendors without customers completing tip selections, allowing them to add unauthorized tip charges ranging from 25% to over $50 after attendees have walked away.
What’s Happening?
- Bartenders and vendors are allegedly rushing to finalize tabs while withholding the tip selection screen or pressing through it quickly.
- Once the customer leaves, the vendor adds a large tip without permission.
- Attendees report shocking bank statement surprises and difficulties disputing these fraudulent charges.
How to Stay Safe
- Hold the entire payment device firmly during the transaction.
- Do not release the terminal until the tip screen fully loads and you select the tip amount.
- Keep a close watch on your bank or card statements after the festival.
- Report suspicious charges immediately to your card issuer.
Community Reaction
The EDC community is trading tips on how to prevent these sneak attacks and discussing the frustrating entanglement with tipping culture. While some consider confronting offenders, many just emphasize heightened vigilance.
Final Take
With EDC 2026 underway, attendees are encouraged to stay alert, protect their payment process, and uphold PLUR (Peace, Love, Unity, Respect). No festival fan deserves to lose money to shady tip hustling.
For more on related festival scams, check out:
Concern Rises Over Possible EDC Las Vegas Ticket Scams
Source: r/electricdaisycarnival