SINGAPORE – A total of 25 men and 20 women are under police probe for their suspected involvement in concert ticket scams that have cost victims here $571,000 since January.
The suspects, aged between 17 and 57, were rounded up in a nine-day operation between Feb 26 and March 5, the police said in a statement on March 7.
Just over two months into 2024, at least 1,241 victims have been duped in concert ticket scams, most of them involving American pop star Taylor Swift’s sold-out six-night run at the National Stadium in March, the police added.
Victims came across listings of concert tickets for sale on diverse platforms, including Telegram, X, Facebook, Carousell and Xiaohongshu.
After the victims made contact, the scammers would move the chat to messaging apps like WhatsApp and WeChat, then instruct victims to make payment for their “tickets” through PayNow, bank transfers or virtual credits, such as iTunes cards.
Victims realised they had been swindled when scammers did not deliver the tickets, were unable to show any proof of authenticity for the tickets sent, or became uncontactable. Some victims received fake tickets that were later rejected at the concert venues.
After popular online marketplace Carousell suspended the sale of concert tickets for the length of Swift’s stay in Singapore until March 9, scammers pivoted to encrypted messaging app Telegram to entice victims, said the police.
In preliminary investigations, the police found that the suspects had either given scammers control of their bank accounts or had their credentials phished after applying for fake trading accounts, jobs or loan schemes.
One suspect had received and transferred money for scammers through his bank account for a commission of as high as $60 a transaction.
The offence of handing over banking details to criminals is punishable with a fine of up to $5,000, jail time of up to two years, or both.
Members of the public with information on such scams should call the police hotline on 1800-255-0000, or submit it online at police.gov.sg/iwitness
They can also visit scamalert.sg or call the Anti-Scam Helpline on 1800-722-6688.
News
Is ‘The Watchers’ Inspired by Real-Life Folklore? Discover the Truth Behind the Scary Story!
Folktales have led to some of the most terrifying horror movies in recent years, presenting audiences with monstrous creatures and strange human behavior. These stories come from…
Director’s Daughter Turns Horror Flop into a Surprise #1 Hit on Max
Growing up on sets around the world, Ishana Night Shyamalan watched her father, two-time Academy Award nominee M. Night Shyamalan, helm some of the biggest thrillers and…
‘The Watchers’: Dakota Fanning, Ishana Shyamalan, and Georgina Campbell Share How ‘Love Island’ Surprisingly Influenced Their Chilling Horror Film!
©Warner Bros/Courtesy Everett Collection “Try not to die!” When Dakota Fanning’s Mina prepares for a night out with a bird on loan from the pet shop, she gives…
Here’s Why ‘The Watchers’ Should Be Your Next Must-Watch Series!
The feature debut of 24-year-old Ishana Night Shyamalan has divided critics, but there’s more going on beneath the surface than it seems. Dakota Fanning in ‘The Watchers.’ Jonathan…
Could HBO’s Big Bet on ‘Industry’ Cement Its Status as the Next Hit Series?
Nick Strasburg/HBO It’s a tale as old as time in the television industry: There’s no better way to make a TV show a success than to move…
Industry Season 3 Returns with 8 Thrilling Episodes Packed with High-Stakes Drama and Scandalous Debauchery!
The HBO series levels up in its third season—and you won’t want to miss a second of it. HBO Our product picks are editor-tested, expert-approved. We may…
End of content
No more pages to load