BTS Ticket Scammers Take Over $100,000 in Southeast Asia as Demand Runs 15 Times Supply
Updated
Updated · BBC.com · Jun 21
BTS Ticket Scammers Take Over $100,000 in Southeast Asia as Demand Runs 15 Times Supply
3 articles · Updated · BBC.com · Jun 21
Summary
More than $100,000 has been lost by BTS fans in Southeast Asia to fake comeback-tour ticket sales, with scammers using X, Facebook and fan groups to offer VIP seats, queue help or discounted access.
Demand has made fans unusually vulnerable: BTS is staging 15 of 88 shows in the region, ticket demand is about 15 times available supply, and extra dates are still being added in Jakarta and Bulacan.
Singapore police logged at least 62 complaints worth more than S$68,000 since 1 June, while Malaysian police received 28 reports and Thai lawmakers are hearing a complaint tied to 126 alleged victims.
Platforms and ticketing firms are tightening controls—Carousell suspended ticket resales until 22 December, and Ticketmaster said it is using AI, stricter anti-bot rules and email verification to curb fraud.
The scam wave is hitting BTS' first tour with multiple shows in five Southeast Asian countries, part of a 34-city reunion expected by some analysts to generate nearly $2 billion.