Touts Exploit Overseas Workers for Ticketing Profiteering

Tue Oct 21 2025 00:07:23 GMT+0300 (Eastern European Summer Time)

A BBC investigation reveals that ticket touts are engaging overseas workers to bulk-buy tickets for major concerts, selling them at exorbitant prices.

The practice of ticket touting is under scrutiny as a recent investigation found that touts are employing foreign workers to secure and resell tickets for top concerts at inflated prices, causing frustration among fans. The UK government is considering new legislation to combat this issue, but critics believe current measures are insufficient.

Ticket touts are employing teams of overseas workers, dubbed "ticket pullers," to bulk-purchase tickets for major concerts such as Oasis and Taylor Swift, only to resell them at inflated prices, a BBC investigation has uncovered. Undercover reporters exposed that gangs operating in countries like Pakistan are allegedly making millions by exploiting automated software and multiple identities to secure hundreds of tickets as soon as sales open.

After an extensive pre-sale for Oasis's long-awaited reunion tour, tickets originally priced at £150 were listed online for more than £6,000, leading to outrage among fans who spent hours in online queues without success. One ticket pulling boss revealed their team had successfully acquired 300 tickets for Coldplay, indicating a well-coordinated operation.

Despite new plans from the UK government to curb such practices, critics argue that these initiatives lack the necessary strength to address the issue effectively. The ticketing industry has long been plagued by similar practices, with many fans resigned to paying over the odds due to these none-too-savory tactics.

Additionally, reports of stealthy operations by some members of the ticketing industry itself were uncovered, pointing to possible collusion with touts. Former insiders have revealed how they infiltrated secretive online groups facilitating mass ticket generation, paving the way for significant breaches in fairness and transparency within ticket sales.

Companies like Viagogo have faced accusations of failing to regulate their platforms adequately, as evidence surfaced of thousands of tickets being listed speculatively—meaning they may not even exist. Concerns extend beyond music events to sports, with reports of Premier League football tickets being sold illegally, despite longstanding regulations prohibiting such actions.

As investigations continue, the UK government is poised to strengthen laws and consumer protections, amid calls for firmer action against unscrupulous ticket touts profiting from fans' frustrations. Yet, experts express doubts about the effectiveness of these measures, urging a more rigorous approach to ensure a fair ticketing experience for all fans.