BTS Tour Ticket Scams Cost Fans Thousands in Southeast Asia

Mon Jun 22 2026 09:33:24 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

Thousands of fans lose money to scammers while desperate to secure tickets for BTS’s high‑profile comeback tour.

BTS’s comeback concert tour has spurred a frantic battle for tickets that has seen fans in Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore and the Philippines fall prey to scammers. Victims report losing hundreds of dollars – in some cases over $1,200 – after paying for resold seats that turned out to be fake. Local authorities and Ticketmaster are stepping up measures to curb scalpers and bots, but fans remain eager to secure spots, buying through unofficial channels and raising the risk of fraud.

Scammers cash in on BTS fans desperate for tickets

As the group returns to the stage after a three‑year hiatus, the demand for tickets in Southeast Asia has skyrocketed, with fans willing to pay anywhere from $100 to $300 for seats. While fans try to secure tickets through official channels, many have turned to resellers on platforms like X, only to discover that the tickets are fake.

The fight began on 9 June when Vevee, a 26‑year‑old logistics employee from Jakarta, logged into Ticketmaster and found tickets already sold out. She then paid an X user $1,200 for four VIP seats – a two‑month salary – only for the seller to vanish after the transaction.

Similar stories are emerging across the region. In Thailand, a list of 126 fans who paid to have an online account “wait in line” for tickets was reported to Parliament, while Singapore police received 62 complaints amounting to S$68,000 in losses since 1 June. Malaysian authorities are tracking mule accounts involved in fraudulent transactions.

Scale of theft – over $100,000 lost in the region

In Indonesia and the Philippines, scammers have siphoned more than $100,000 from fans who patiently wait in line, sometimes renting high‑speed broadband, using multiple phones and travelling weeks to secure a spot. The demand has surpassed supply by 15 times across 34 cities on the tour, leading to added dates such as a third Jakarta show and a new Bulacan venue in the Philippines.

Authorities and ticketing companies respond

Ticketmaster, a Live Nation subsidiary, says it has introduced AI‑based anti‑scalping measures and stricter rules, including email verification and the possibility of denying entry to resold tickets. Ticketmaster urges fans to purchase tickets only through official sources, citing the artist’s website as the safest route.

In the meantime, Carousell has suspended the resale of BTS tickets on its platform until 22 December, the day of the final Singapore show. Police in the region are investigating individual cases, and some victims have lodged complaints with Parliament and local law enforcement.

Stories of hope and despair

Fans like Vevee didn’t give up. After failing to secure tickets on the first pre‑sale, she and her friends split into groups, each using different internet connections and accounts. On the final day of general sale, the strategy paid off and she earned tickets for the Jakarta show – a triumph over the chaos.

Others, like Filipino fan Cookie, were left frustrated and ashamed after paying 30,000 philippine pesos for a package that never arrived. She says “I didn’t tell anyone; I wanted to be there, but it was a desperate move.”

Despite the setbacks, fans call for stronger protections, citing the need for more robust enforcement against scalpers and a safer ticket‑purchasing environment. The hype around BTS’s comeback continues to grow, even as the tour faces the threat of fraud and the fervor for tickets.

For more on the BTS comeback, check this BBC article on BTS’s expected earnings or watch the concert footage.