Fans of South Korean pop star G-Dragon were left empty-handed and out of pocket after a sophisticated ticket fraud operation scammed them of more than HK$610,000 (about US$77,000) ahead of his sold-out Hong Kong concerts this week.
Police revealed that since mid-July, they received over 200 reports of suspected ticket scams citywide, with nearly 30 of these cases directly linked to G-Dragon's world tour stop in Hong Kong.
Authorities warned that as the concert date neared, social media platforms were filled with posts advertising scalped, fake, or non-existent tickets. In one example, a woman looking to buy two tickets, each originally priced at $305, paid $1,020 upfront. The seller then demanded additional funds, ultimately extracting more than $23,000 across three transactions before disappearing without delivering any tickets.
CyberDefender, a unit of the Cyber Security and Technology Crime Bureau, urged buyers to scrutinise sellers before making any payment. Concert-goers are advised to verify a seller's phone number, bank account details, and social media profile, and to search for negative reviews or scam alerts.
Local media reported that in the previous month alone, police handled over 800 ticket-related fraud cases involving concerts, theme park entry, flights, sports events, and celebrity meet-and-greets. The total losses from these scams exceeded $510,000, reflecting the scale and diversity of online ticket fraud in the city.
In a separate crackdown in June, eight individuals were arrested for orchestrating a cross-border ticket counterfeiting network. They produced high-quality fake tickets for concerts by Cantopop singer Nicholas Tse, Taiwanese star Jay Chou, and four other artists.
Police investigations revealed a clear division of labour within the syndicate: masterminds posted low-resolution images of tickets on social media with key details obscured, printing factories mass-produced the counterfeits, and recruit members arranged in-person handovers to complete transactions. The syndicate also provided forged QR codes and doctored purchase confirmations to convince buyers of the tickets' authenticity. Losses in that operation totalled around $82,800.
The Hong Kong Police Force continues to monitor online marketplaces and social media channels for suspicious ticket listings. They urge fans to purchase only from verified vendors or official box offices. Anyone with information about fake ticket sellers is encouraged to report details, including screenshots and transaction records, to their local police station or via the CyberDefender Facebook page.
