Concert ticket scams on the rise in Hong Kong

Over 1,200 cases of online scams involving concert tickets were recorded in Hong Kong in the first 10 months of 2023, resulting in a total loss of HK$11 million (US$1.4 million) - a rise of more than 300% in number while consumers’ financial loss increased fourfold.

As reported by the China Daily, Ip Cheuk-yu, from the Cyber Security and Technology Crime Bureau of the Hong Kong Police Force, told Radio Television Hong Kong (RTHK) that scammers put pressure on victims to transfer money quickly to avoid tickets selling out, before vanishing or providing a counterfeit product.

According to Ip, Hong Kong Police Force investigate these scams by tracing the scammers’ digital footprints and monitoring fund flows. However, some scammers may use overseas platforms or open bank accounts or e-wallets with documents other than Hong Kong identity cards, and they leave Hong Kong after opening the accounts. This creates difficulties in making arrests.

However, he emphasised that the Hong Kong Police Force will investigate any amount of money lost to scams, no matter how small.

The Hong Kong Police Force urge the public to purchase concert tickets through official channels and, if using online platforms, to conduct face-to-face transactions. Prior to making any transfers, buyers are advised to verify the sellers’ phone numbers and bank account information using the scam and pitfall search engine, Scameter, or its mobile application.

RTHK reported that in one alleged scam a consumer contacted a vendor on social media to purchase a ticket for a local concert. The seller claimed to offer a ‘Hong Kong resident discount’ and provided identification documents and proof of address.

After transferring HK$2,100, the consumer was persuaded by the seller to buy a pricier ticket.

However, the consumer became suspicious when she noticed that the recipient’s name on the bank transfer did not match the name on the identification documents provided. Seeking Hong Kong Police Force assistance, they were informed that the account was linked to multiple fraud cases.

In another scam case, a would-be concertgoer fell victim to scammers when purchasing a ticket for the Hong Kong concert of a popular South Korean girl group at the beginning of this year.

The buyer contacted a vendor on social media, who requested multiple transfers, citing various reasons such as issues with the bank account. Desperate for the ticket, the buyer transferred nearly HK$18,000 before realising she had been scammed and calling the Police.