Public advised to purchase event tickets via official sources

KUALA LUMPUR: Online ticketing agent, Ticket Charge, has cautioned the public against engaging with third parties via social media to avoid falling victim to ticketing scams.
Ticket Charge chief executive officer Kinnix Chan said the public should always make it a point to check on who is the event organiser or official ticketing agent before making any payment to avoid being cheated.
"If there's any doubt, just call up the event organiser or ticketing agent," she told reporters during a press conference at the MCA Public Services and Complaints Department today.
Chan's advice came after a college student became the latest victim in a ticketing scam where she had paid for a ticket to attend a mini album event by Korean girl-band Red Velvet but failed to receive it.
The victim, known as Koh, said she was approached by a person via Facebook after posting a comment on the Red Velvet Official Page on her intention to purchase a ticket for the April 23 event at the Bentley Music Auditorium in Mutiara Damansara.
In her comment, Koh mentioned that she is willing to pay slightly higher for the ticket.
Moments after leaving the comment, Koh was contacted by a person called Wong who claimed that she worked for Ticket Charge.
The person claimed to have three free standing zone tickets on sale.
"Upon hearing it, I immediately told her that I am interested to purchase one ticket and was then asked to transfer RM180 for the ticket to a local bank account," Koh said.
Koh, however, did not get her ticket after making the payment instead she was later contacted by another person named Tan who informed her that she will get her ticket once he received payment from another buyer, Amy, for the other two tickets.
"In the conversation, Tan asked if I am willing to pay on Amy's behalf first as she does not have the time to make the transaction and that Amy will return the money to me once she is free.
"Suspecting that it might be a scam, I asked Tan for Amy's contact details but before I could contact Amy, she texted me asking if I can loan her the amount.
"However, through our conversation I realised that Amy was not eager to go for the event and requested for my refund from Tan," Koh said.
Koh's request for refund was rejected and to make matters worse, she was continuously harassed by both Tan and Amy and the duo even threatened to lodge a police report against her.
Koh has since lodged a police report following the incident.