Beware of Ticket Scams as Blackpink's Hanoi Concert Approaches
The local response to the upcoming Blackpink concert in Hanoi is fervent, with some voices urging caution against ticket scams. On July 9th, Vietnamese media outlets such as Vietnam net reported that the popular South Korean girl group Blackpink will be coming to Hanoi at the end of July, igniting immense enthusiasm among Vietnamese fans. It will be Blackpink's first-ever performance in Vietnam, with their concert titled "Born Pink" scheduled for July 29th and 30th at the My Dinh Stadium in Hanoi.
During the online ticket sales period, approximately 300,000 people attempted to purchase Blackpink concert tickets through the official ticketing website. However, many fans faced difficulty in acquiring the tickets they desired, despite enduring long waiting times. According to reports, tickets were sold out within just two hours of the ticketing opening on July 7th.
The My Dinh Stadium in Hanoi, with a capacity of 40,000 seats, including standing areas, struggles to meet the demands of fans. Consequently, ticket scams targeting disappointed fans have been on the rise, contributing to the increasing prevalence of fraudulent activities related to Blackpink concert tickets.
One victim of online ticket purchase scams, named Nguyen Thuy Trang, shared her experience in a ticket-hunting community. Trang revealed that when she expressed interest in purchasing CAT 5 grade tickets (priced at 1.2 million VND), the seller demanded an upfront payment of 900,000 VND. To reassure the buyer, the seller even sent photos of their ID card and household registration booklet. However, Trang lamented, "After I transferred the money, their attitude completely changed," expressing her unfortunate encounter with a ticket scam.
Furthermore, numerous fans who failed to secure tickets through official channels have been exposed to various fraudulent activities while seeking tickets through alternative channels, as reported by media outlets.
According to the nonprofit organization Anti-Phishing Project, which focuses on IT security in Vietnam, a significant number of ticket fraud incidents have recently occurred online. Some influencers, seeking likes, views, or fraudulent sales, have been seen printing tickets, taking pictures with their faces, and posting them online.
The representative of the Anti-Phishing Project emphasized that young individuals should exercise caution when purchasing tickets from the "black market." The best course of action is to avoid utilizing websites, social pages, groups, or individuals of unknown origins. It was stressed that in most cases, requesting advance payments from buyers indicates fraudulent intent.
Additionally, it was advised that individuals and organizations alike should be wary of cybercrimes involving such types of ticket scams, as some scammers might pose as benevolent entities, offering significant benefits or requiring sponsorship funds during online ticket purchases.
