More than 1,500 people in Singapore lost at least $1.1m to concert ticket scams from fake online listings in 2023
Listings were posted on Telegram, Carousell, X, Facebook and Xiaohongshu; most scams last month were from Telegram
SINGAPORE — More than 1,500 people fell victim to concert ticket scams and lost a total of at least S$1.1 million last year, said the Singapore Police Force (SPF) in an advisory on Friday (2 February).
Ticket listings would typically be posted on platforms like Telegram, Carousell, X, Facebook and Xiaohongshu. The police added that it had identified that most of the scams last month were from Telegram listings.
Victims would approach the scammers via in-app messenger, and were redirected to messaging platforms such as WhatsApp and Telegram. They were then asked to transfer money via PayNow, bank transfers or virtual credits like iTunes cards.
After payment, the scammers would subsequently request for additional payments, delay delivery or become uncontactable. Victims who received tickets would later find them to be invalid at the concert venues. In some cases, the scammers refused to provide physical tickets or any proof of authenticity.
Buying tickets through authorised sellers
The public is advised to buy tickets only through authorised sellers, legitimate marketplaces, or resellers such as Ticketmaster. These sites provide ticket verification and guarantee refunds for any invalid tickets received.
The police also urged the public to be discerning when buying concert tickets from online third-party resellers. They should avoid making advance payments or direct bank transfers, as it does not offer any protection to buyers.
"Alternatively, request for physical tickets and only make payment after receiving tickets," said the police.
Other precautions can be made by adding security features such as the ScamShield app on your phone, and enabling two-factor authentication for banks. Limits can also be set on Internet banking transactions.
Anyone with information on scams should call the police hotline (1800-2550000), or submit details through the I-Witness e-service. The public can also visit the Scam Alert website or call the Anti-Scam Helpline (1800-7226688) for more information.
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