As Coldplay’s ‘Music of the Spheres’ Tour approaches, eager fans fall victim to ticket fraud amid overwhelming demand, with organisers urging caution against unauthorised resellers.
As Coldplay’s highly anticipated Music of the Spheres world tour nears its UAE stop in Abu Dhabi, a number of fans have been caught in a wave of ticket scams, losing thousands of dirhams to fraudsters. While the excitement around the concert is palpable, the rush for tickets has led to opportunistic scams, with fake sellers targeting eager fans desperate for a chance to see the band live.
One such victim, Dubai resident P.S., shared her harrowing experience with Khaleej Times after losing Dh400 in a Facebook ticket scam. P.S. thought she was dealing with a reputable seller in a tight-knit group, but after sending half the payment for the tickets, she was blocked by the seller, who disappeared without a trace. Desperate to prevent others from falling for similar scams, P.S. reported the incident to the police and shared her story on social media, which led to more victims coming forward.
“I was shocked to learn that others had lost as much as Dh1,500 to similar scams,” P.S. said. “The seller even provided a fake Emirates ID, making it look legitimate. It wasn’t until I shared my story online that I learned about the official Ticketmaster mobile entry system for Coldplay’s concerts.”
Ticketmaster, the official ticketing platform for Coldplay’s UAE shows, has been vocal about the dangers of purchasing from unauthorised resellers. Due to the mobile entry system, which restricts tickets to attendees’ phones and only allows scannable tickets to appear 72 hours before the event, tickets bought through unofficial channels are not valid for entry. Resellers are warned that any tickets purchased outside of the official platform, including those from sites like Viagogo and Dubizzle, will be cancelled.
The excitement around Coldplay’s performance has been immense, with the band’s only Middle Eastern concert now sold out. In response, demand for tickets on secondary markets has soared, leading to inflated prices and a surge in ticket scams. The concert’s popularity has even affected flight prices, with travel agents predicting a 300% increase in flight ticket prices from various regions as fans travel to the UAE for the performance.
With Coldplay’s arrival in Abu Dhabi quickly approaching, organisers and Ticketmaster are urging fans to stay vigilant and purchase tickets only through the official channels. While scammers may continue to exploit the eager fans, awareness and caution will help ensure that the Music of the Spheres experience remains a safe and unforgettable one for all.
