Fans of the South Korean pop star G-Dragon remained empty-handed and out of pocket after a sophisticated fraud operation with tickets beaten them by over 610,000 hk $ (about 77,000 US $) before his Hong Kong concerts sold out this week.
The police revealed that since mid-July they have received over 200 reports of suspected scams on tickets throughout the city, with almost 30 of these cases directly connected to the G-Dragon world tour stop in Hong Kong.
The authorities warned that with the resale of the concert date, social media platforms were full of advertising posts, false or non -existent tickets. In one exampleA woman who tries to buy two tickets, each at the price of $ 305, paid $ 1,020 in advance. The seller then requested additional funds, at the end more than $ 23,000 in three transactions before disappearing without delivering any tickets.
Cyberdefender, a unit of the Cyber Security and Technology Crime Bureau, invited buyers to examine the sellers before making any payment. Concert visitors are recommended to check a seller’s phone number, bank account details and social media profile and looking for negative reviews or scam notices.
The local media reported that only in the previous month, the police managed over 800 cases of fraud relating to tickets involving concerts, themed park entrance, flights, sporting events and celebrities. Total losses from these scams have exceeded $ 510,000, reflecting the scale and diversity of the free tickets online in the city.
In a separate repression in June, eight people were arrested for having orchestrated a network of counterfeiting of cross -border tickets. They produced high quality false tickets for concerts by the singer Cantopop Nicholas Tse, of Taiwan Jay Chou’s star and four other artists.
The police investigations revealed a clear division of labor within the union: Masterminds published low -resolution images on social media with darkened key details, the printing factories produced counterfeits and recruitment members in series organized the delivery of person to complete the transactions. The union also provided forged QR codes and purchasing confirmations to convince the buyers of the authenticity of the tickets. The losses in that operation amounted to around $ 82,800.
Hong Kong police forces continue to monitor online markets and social media channels for suspicion Ticket lists. Fans urge to buy only from verified vendors or official box officine. Anyone who has information on fake ticket sellers is encouraged to report the details, including screens and transactions record, to their local police station or via the Cyberdefender Facebook page.
