In the latest findings of cybersecurity company Kaspersky, ticketing is identified as one of the five key AI-driven threat areas affecting entertainment platforms, delivery networks, gaming platforms and regulatory oversight.
The impact is felt most clearly during major concert announcements—which is when tickets sell out fast and scammers are quick to exploit the rush.
In an email interview with Sam Yan, head of enterprise security for Asia-Pacific at Kaspersky, he said that AI-powered ticketing scams are becoming more sophisticated, using urgency and high demand around major events to lure victims.
“In the Philippines, scam activity typically increases around high demand concerts and events, when urgency makes consumers more vulnerable to fraud,” Yan told PhilSTAR Tech.
In early 2024, more than 100 Filipino fans lost nearly ₱15 million after being scammed by bogus sellers pretending to sell tickets to Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour Singapore stop, prompting investigations by the National Bureau of Investigation and warnings from authorities.
While not all ticket scams in the Philippines are confirmed to be fully AI-generated, cybersecurity firms like Kaspersky say many now use AI-assisted tools to create more convincing fake ticketing pages, allowing scams to spread faster and appear more legitimate.
Scammers take advantage of this behavior by using AI tools to create professional-looking websites and convincing purchase flows that closely resemble legitimate ticketing platforms.
Unlike older scam pages, AI-generated scam sites can appear polished and trustworthy.
Yan said Kaspersky’s detection systems go beyond visual cues, analyzing a range of technical and behavioral indicators such as suspicious URLs, abnormal website behavior, and content similarities across multiple pages.
“We also identify reused templates, repetitive language structures, and visual layouts commonly found in AI-generated scam sites, which allows us to flag and block fraudulent ticketing pages even when they appear professional and highly convincing,” Yan wrote.
Customer education ahead of major events
Yan emphasized that local ticketing companies and event organizers must take a proactive approach early on.
Recommended measures include actively monitoring for fake websites and social media impersonation. There also is a need for strong authentication and regular system updates for platforms. Organizers must communicate clearly via official sales channels.
“Customer education before and during major events is critical to reducing the impact of ticketing scams,” Yan advised.
For consumers, Yan said that caution remains to be the most essential act.
He advised Filipino concertgoers to purchase tickets only from verified sellers, saying that unsolicited links must be avoided, website details must be checked carefully. They also must use strong passwords with multi-factor authentication.
As the Philippines continues to host more international concerts and large-scale events, Yan warned that AI-powered ticketing scams are likely to grow alongside demand-making awareness and verification more important than ever.
