Carousell suspends the selling of tickets for Taylor Swift concerts in order to prevent any frauds
Carousell suspends the selling of tickets for Taylor Swift concerts to prevent any fraud. Scammers often exploit the last-minute rush for tickets in the two weeks leading up to Taylor Swift’s Eras tour concerts, warns Carousell. Vigilance is crucial during this period to avoid falling victim to fraudulent ticket sales.
Carousell is proactively suspending the sale of Taylor Swift concert tickets ahead of her Singapore shows, citing the global trend of increased ticket scams during this period. The suspension, effective from February 23 to March 9, includes the removal of existing listings by February 26, aiming to protect consumers from potential fraudulent transactions.
Carousell’s suspension of Taylor Swift concert ticket sales extends to its platforms in Singapore, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, and Taiwan. Despite the usual presence of genuine sellers, Carousell acknowledges the unique circumstances surrounding Taylor Swift’s Eras tour, leading to this temporary exception.
The company apologizes for any inconvenience caused but emphasizes the need to protect overseas concertgoers who may be unfamiliar with local scam tactics, especially during the two weeks preceding the shows. This precautionary measure aims to safeguard users from potential fraudulent activities.
Carousell is deploying a combination of AI detection and manual moderation to identify and remove Taylor Swift concert ticket listings. Users are urged to actively report any suspicious listings. Since October 2023, all Singapore sellers in the Tickets and Vouchers category must verify their identities using Singpass.
The platform displays advisories to educate users on safe transactions. Buyers are advised to conduct background checks, arrange physical meet-ups to authenticate tickets, and exercise caution. Concert ticket scams have affected over 1,500 people in the past year, resulting in losses exceeding S$1.1 million, as reported by the police earlier this month.
To avoid falling victim to scams, the police advise consumers to purchase tickets through authorized sellers rather than third-party resellers. Scammers often use platforms like Telegram, Carousell, X, Facebook, and Xiaohongsu to post fraudulent ticket listings. Being cautious and opting for official channels can help ensure the authenticity of tickets and prevent financial losses.
