40% rise in Hong Kong concert ticket scams amid JJ Lin, Jay Chou shows
Police say more than 70 cases reported in second half of May involved bogus ticket sales for Mandopop stars’ Kai Tak Stadium shows
The number of reported concert ticket scams in Hong Kong has surged by 40 per cent week on week, according to police, with more than 70 cases from the second half of May related to Mandopop stars JJ Lin and Jay Chou’s performances at Kai Tak Stadium.
Police said on Wednesday they had received 114 reports of concert ticket scams for the week starting on May 24, compared with the 80 recorded over the previous week.
The amount of money involved in the cases over the two-week period was more than HK$1.6 million (US$203,900).
In a post on its CyberDefender social media page, the force said 37 people came forward over the past two weeks after falling victim to scams offering bogus tickets to Singaporean singer JJ Lin’s concerts at the stadium on May 24 and 25.
Another 23 people called police after attempting to buy tickets to Taiwanese performer Jay Chou’s shows at the same venue, which will take place from June 27 to 29.
Seventeen people also reported falling victim to bogus ticket sellers for local singer and actor Raymond Lam Fung’s concerts at the Hong Kong Coliseum from May 22 to 28.
“This averages out to 13 cases per day, with the total amount involved over the two weeks exceeding HK$1.6 million,” police said.