With a busy line-up of concerts coming up, it is a good time to remember how ticket scams work. The Singapore Police Force has issued repeated advisories on this, and the latest numbers show it is still a real problem.

The numbers

  • From January to October 2025, at least 722 concert ticket scam cases were reported, with losses of at least $615,000, according to the Police.
  • Since 1 June 2026, there were at least 62 cases involving a major world tour, with losses of at least $68,200, as of the Police's June advisory.
  • In August 2026, the Police reported at least five related cases and $3,500 in losses for another concert.

How the scams usually work

According to the Police, victims come across ticket offers on messaging or social media platforms such as Telegram, Carousell, X, Xiaohongshu and Facebook. Scammers may send screenshots or videos of fake tickets or receipts, push you to pay quickly because the offer is "limited", and then ask for more money when the tickets do not arrive.

Where to buy

For the concerts named in recent advisories, the Police advise buying only from the authorised ticketing platform, Ticketmaster.
In a September 2026 advisory, the Police said tickets for one major concert were strictly non-transferable and non-resaleable.
Ticketmaster Singapore's page for a recent major concert states that resold tickets will not be honoured at the venue. Rules differ by show, so read the terms for the concert you want.
Check the concert's official page for its authorised sellers. Not every concert uses the same platform.

Simple checks before you pay

  1. Ignore offers from unknown sellers, no matter how good the price.
  2. Do not pay by bank transfer or PayNow to a stranger.
  3. Be wary of pressure to pay "right now".
  4. Check suspicious messages and links with the ScamShield app, or call the 24/7 ScamShield Helpline at 1799.
  5. Turn on two-factor authentication for your banking apps and set transaction limits.

If you have been scammed

The Police's advice is to ADD security tools such as the ScamShield app, CHECK before you pay, and TELL the authorities and your family. Ticketmaster's help page also advises making a police report with all evidence you have, such as chats and payment records.

Rules and authorised sellers differ for each concert, so check the official page of the show you want to attend.