Thousands of fans of the K-pop group BTS have fallen victim to a sophisticated ticket scam, British cybersecurity experts have warned. The National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) reported a surge in fraudulent ticket sales for the band's European tour, with victims losing an average of £350 each.
The scams, which have been circulating on social media platforms and unofficial resale websites, offer tickets at inflated prices or promise exclusive access to VIP packages. Once payment is made, the scammers disappear, leaving fans with neither tickets nor refunds.
Dr. Eleanor Shaw, a cybersecurity analyst at the NCSC, said the scam exploited the high demand for BTS tickets. "Fans are eager to secure seats, and scammers are capitalising on that desperation. We have seen a 300 per cent increase in reported cases since tickets went on sale," she told the BBC.
The NCSC has urged fans to purchase tickets only from official vendors and to be wary of deals that appear too good to be true. "If an offer seems too good to be true, it probably is," Dr. Shaw added. "Check the website's URL, look for secure payment methods, and avoid paying via bank transfer or cryptocurrency."
The scam has hit fans particularly hard because BTS tickets are notoriously difficult to obtain. The band's dedicated fanbase, known as the ARMY, has been left devastated by the losses. Many have taken to social media to share their experiences, with some reporting losses of over £1,000.
This is not the first time BTS fans have been targeted by scammers. In 2019, a similar scam duped fans during the band's US tour. The NCSC is working with social media platforms to take down fraudulent accounts and with banks to trace payments.
The UK's Advertising Standards Authority has also issued a warning, stating that it is investigating several resale websites for potentially misleading advertising. "We are committed to protecting consumers from such practices," a spokesperson said.
For fans who have already fallen victim, the NCSC advises contacting their bank immediately to report the fraud and to alert Action Fraud, the UK's national fraud and cyber crime reporting centre. The police have also been notified, but recovering lost money is difficult if payments were made via untraceable methods.
The BTS tour is set to begin in London in June, with further dates in Manchester and Glasgow. Official resale platforms such as Ticketmaster and See Tickets have advised fans to resell only through their authorised channels.
