Scalper issues hit Ed Sheeran ticket sales in Singapore, Malaysia

Sheeranmania isn’t just confined to Australia. His dates through Asia in late 2017 have caused such a frenzy that a police investigation has reportedly been sparked off in one country due to scalper activity.

Sheeran begins in Taipei on October 27 before playing Osaka, Seoul, Tokyo, Hong Kong, Singapore, Manila, Jakarta, Kuala Lumpur, and finishing in Bangkok on November 16.

He then heads to Mumbai, India on November 19 and Dubai, UAE on November 23. He takes a three-month break before the Australian and New Zealand run.

Second shows were added for Tokyo, Hong Kong and Singapore by promoter AEG Asia.

In Malaysia, all 12,000 tickets for the Axiata Arena on November 14 sold out in 30 minutes. A second show was unable to be scheduled due to the British singer-songwriter’s tight schedule.

According to the show’s sole ticketing agency, MyTicket.Asia, “millions” wanted tickets, some in the online queue from other parts of SE Asia, including Singapore, Indonesia and Thailand.

But it has filed a report to police over the number of scalpers that are selling tickets at inflated prices, and an investigation is said to have begun.

Event organiser PR Worldwide trawled through every transaction and “found some suspicious ones. They’ve now gone on a black list.”

All scalper tickets will be automatically invalidated.

Tickets in Malaysia were priced at RM198 (A$61.40), RM298 ($92.40), RM358 ($111) and RM458 ($141.40). Scalpers are advertising them at between RM700 ($217) to RM4,999.50 ($309.90) each.

In Singapore, a second show on November 12 also immediately sold out.

ChannelNewsAsiareported that a Facebook post claimed that a staffer at the venue, Sports Hub, bought 220 tickets – 100 for the first show and 120 for the second – and many turned up on third-party sites at inflated prices.

One seller was advertising two S$248 (A$239) tickets at S$1,100 ($1064).

Sports Hub said it had investigated the claims and found no evidence to back the allegation.

“There were no suspicious transactions, and tickets were purchased within the respective transaction limits,” it stated.

“While we treat such allegations seriously, we have every confidence in the integrity of our staff and systems.”

Its ticketing system “operated without any technical issues and managed the high demand”.

As resale of tickets above face value is illegal in Singapore, it added it is “in contact with the relevant authorities” about the claim. No resellers are authorised to sell tickets for Sheeran dates, it reiterated.

Last year, $228 (A$220.65) Coldplay tickets were going for $13,000 ($12,759) and promoter Live Nation Lushington voided them.