Thousands of fans of the South Korean pop group BTS have fallen victim to ticket scams ahead of the band’s highly anticipated comeback tour, British authorities have warned. The National Fraud Intelligence Bureau (NFIB) issued an alert on Monday after receiving more than 500 reports of fraudulent ticket sales linked to the tour, with total losses exceeding £1.5 million.
Victims, many of them young adults, paid for tickets on secondary market websites or through social media platforms, only to discover the tickets were counterfeit or never delivered. The alert comes as BTS, known for their global “ARMY” of fans, announced their first live performances in four years, triggering a frenzy among supporters. The NFIB advised fans to purchase tickets only from official vendors and to be wary of deals that appear too good to be true.
“Fraudsters are exploiting the high demand for a limited supply,” said Detective Superintendent Chris Felton, head of the NFIB. “We urge fans to exercise caution and verify the legitimacy of sellers before making payments.” The warning follows a pattern of similar scams during major music events, including the recent Taylor Swift tour.
BTS, who have sold over 30 million albums worldwide, are expected to perform a series of stadium shows in Asia and the United States later this year. The group’s label, Big Hit Music, has not commented on the fraud reports but reiterated that tickets are sold exclusively through authorised channels. The incident underscores the vulnerability of digital ticket markets and the need for stricter regulation to protect consumers, analysts noted.
