Police arrested 10 people, aged 18 to 46, in a two-day operation targeting fake concert-ticket scams and related money laundering. They were arrested on suspicion of offences including conspiracy to defraud, obtaining property by deception and money laundering.
Police linked at least 12 scams to losses of more than HK$360,000. Separately, mule accounts linked to the cases handled more than HK$81 million in suspected criminal proceeds.
According to police, sellers advertised tickets on social media, sometimes a day or two before an event, offering them at half price and arranging face-to-face handovers. Some showed buyers counterfeit tickets and pretended to demonstrate how to check them before taking payment.
Police said most victims set off for the event after paying, only to be told at the entrance that their tickets were fake and would not get them in.
Some sellers also used social-media pages that appeared to belong to physical shops, using addresses of real businesses to look credible. Police said those businesses were not involved in the scams.
Police described genuine tickets as having smooth paper and clear printing, with a reflective laser label at the top right and fluorescent markings on the back visible under ultraviolet light. Seized counterfeit tickets could have rougher paper, darker colours and no security watermark.
Police advised buyers to use official ticket channels and avoid social-media resale offers. Anyone who suspects a ticket is fake should contact the event organiser and report it to police.