18 June 2025 – Hong Kong — Hong Kong police have arrested eight suspects in connection with a counterfeit concert ticket scam that caused losses totaling HK$650,000. The group, whose members range in age from 20 to 44, includes the alleged mastermind, two main accomplices, and five delivery agents. They face multiple charges, including conspiracy to defraud, obtaining property by deception, possession of false documents, and money laundering.
The arrests came after police received numerous complaints between April and May from victims who bought fake tickets at inflated prices through unofficial channels. Some victims lost more than HK$68,000 each. Undercover officers posing as buyers captured the suspects during a police operation on 17 and 18 June.
Police seized 52 high-quality counterfeit tickets during the raids. Of these, 40 tickets, worth a total of HK$100,000, were found in the suspects’ possession. The forged tickets were for popular upcoming concerts, including shows by Mandopop star Jay Chou, Singapore’s JJ Lin, and K-pop star G-Dragon, as well as past events featuring Nicholas Tse and Dear Jane.
Investigators uncovered a well-organized scam with clear roles. The mastermind posted low-resolution images of tickets on social media to attract buyers. The fake tickets were mass-produced in factories across the border. Key members recruited delivery agents who met victims in person, demonstrated fake ticket verification methods, and provided false QR codes, seat numbers, and purchase records to fool buyers.
The scammers used various tricks to lure customers, such as offering limited-time discounts, claiming tickets were in short supply, and insisting on cash payments only during face-to-face meetings, without upfront deposits. Police also found that some personal bank accounts linked to the group had been used to launder between HK$600,000 and over HK$10 million.
