Featured Image: Handout
Hong Kong police have arrested five men for allegedly selling fake tickets to Andy Lau Tak-wah concerts through different online platforms.
Suspects aged between 18 and 45 were apprehended by authorities between December 27 and January 3, while more arrests may still take place.
“The confiscated counterfeit concert tickets were very realistic,” said Inspector Tai Kwong-fai, as reported by the South China Morning Post.
“It would be very difficult for the average [buyer] to verify [their authenticity] from the font, anti-forgery features and the paper used.
“The swindlers would also lower the victims’ suspicion by meeting them in person for the transaction and providing ways to examine the tickets. These cases are still happening.”
Tickets for the concerts at Hong Kong Coliseum between December 17 and January 10 were priced between HK$680 (£70/$87.50/€85) and HK$1,280 on the official sales channel.
However, the fake tickets were sold at a mark-up of HK$2,000 to HK$5,000 and the five suspects were arrested for “allegedly dishonestly obtaining property belonging to another by deception.”
Victims bought the tickets through different online platforms or social media and paid by cash or bank transfer, only to be told by concert venue staff that they could not enter.
Tai urged the public to avoid buying tickets from unofficial channels or strangers online.
Hong Kong is the final destination for Lau, who was born in Tai Po, on his 20-concert tour called “Today is the Day” after performing in Macau, Singapore, Taipei, and Kuala Lumpur.
Share this