Ticket Scalping Is More Complicated Than We Thought — BBC Says U.K. Touts Are Overseeing Vast Overseas Operations In Countries Like Pakistan and India

U.K. ticket scalping operations are utilizing overseas buyers to scoop up large numbers of high-demand passes, per a new report. Photo Credit: Benjamin Sharpe

Ticket scalping is even more complicated than we thought – at least according to the BBC, which says it’s uncovered evidence of overseas teams that scoop up high-demand event passes. This report arrives on the heels of a separate “ticket tout” investigative piece from the same outlet. Though ticketing qualms certainly aren’t new, fans (and watchdogs) across the pond are still looking back in anger when it comes to Oasis’ reunion tour on-sale.

Not unlike the stateside fallout stemming from the Eras Tour ticketing fiasco, that episode fueled Ticketmaster scrutiny and set in motion government plans to cap ticket-resale prices.

Of course, the in-the-works cap – which, with discussions ongoing, may limit any resale to face value or a 30% premium from there – would be enforced with a law, possibly including heightened penalties for violations. But what about resellers who tap international buyers and deal in U.K. tickets?

Enter the aforementioned BBC piece, which describes U.K.-based touts enlisting individuals in Pakistan, India, and elsewhere to seize upon hot tickets. Citing direct communications with these alleged overseas operators, the report points to the use of “illegal automated software and multiple identities” as part of the alleged schemes.

Running with the idea, the text also describes substantial profits ultimately reaching touts in the U.K. – though Viagogo pushed back against the claim that bulk-resellers are prevalent on its platform.

Precise definition of “prevalent” aside, one won’t be hard pressed to find fans on social media who are less than thrilled with the ticketing landscape. Furthermore, the report and the ticket-price complaints aren’t exactly shocking, and one potential solution may already exist in Dynamic Pricing.

In theory, if ticket prices adjusted based on real-time demand out of the gate, there wouldn’t be nearly as big an opportunity for scalping. For artists, however, the appearance of gouging at the outset is problematic; Dynamic Pricing has attracted a good bit of criticism, and Oasis opted against using the feature for its North American dates.

How, then, can the live sector decommission carefully organized ticket scalping operations targeting popular events? Replacing on-sales with straight seat-by-seat auctions is an option. Putting their dedication to the test, superfans could bid on individual passes until, say, just a few hours before showtime.

Increasingly urgent notifications would encourage diehard supporters to bid through the final bell, and multi-year financing options, situated prominently on each auction page, would be in place to help spur the hesitant along. The mixed-bag approach might box out resellers on one hand while elevating prices into the stratosphere on the other.

Kidding aside, Iron Maiden did ditch Dynamic Pricing and cap resale prices for its ongoing tour. But logic and evidence (try searching “Iron Maiden tickets” on X) suggest fans in urgent need of price-capped tickets will simply coordinate purchases off-platform and pay more than face value in the process.