5 arrested over sale of fake tickets for Hong Kong star Andy Lau’s concerts

Hong Kong police have arrested five men for selling fraudulent tickets to Cantopop “Heavenly King” Andy Lau Tak-wah’s concert through different online platforms, with around two dozen of such cases linked to the event since last month.

Inspector Tai Kwong-fai of the Kowloon City district crime squad said on Saturday that the men, aged between 18 and 45, were apprehended between December 27 and January 3, and that more arrests could be under way.

“The confiscated counterfeit concert tickets were very realistic. It would be very difficult for the average [buyer] to verify [the tickets’ authenticity] from the font, anti-forgery features and the paper used,” Tai said.

“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,” he said, adding that cases had been reported since December 17.

Singer Andy Lau is performing at the Hong Kong Coliseum in Hung Hom between December 17 and January 10, with tickets priced between HK$680 and HK$1,280.