Ticket Touts Exploit International Workers for Profit Amidst Concert Frenzy**

The practice of ticket touting has intensified, with operations employing teams of "ticket pullers" overseas to secure high-demand concert tickets for resale at exorbitant prices, leaving genuine fans out of pocket.**

Ticket touts are increasingly leveraging overseas workers to bulk-purchase tickets for major concerts, a tactic highlighted in a recent BBC investigation. This practice has come under fire as tickets for sought-after shows, like Oasis and Taylor Swift, have been listed on resale platforms for staggering prices—sometimes exceeding £6,000.

According to the investigation, numerous touts hire international agents known as "ticket pullers" who are responsible for quickly acquiring large quantities of tickets when they go on sale. One such "puller," based in Pakistan, shared with an undercover journalist that they could generate hundreds of tickets for concerts and claimed that some UK touts made in excess of £500,000 in a single year.

Despite the UK government’s efforts to legislate against ticket touting, critics argue that proposed measures are insufficient. The recent resurgence of high-demand concerts has resulted in over 900,000 tickets for Oasis's reunion tour being sold, with thousands of genuine fans reportedly unable to buy tickets after hours of waiting in online queues.

The investigation revealed that touts utilize automated software and multiple identities to buy tickets, practices that could constitute fraud. One industry insider reported on a secretive online group, capable of generating 100,000 "queue passes," which allows members to bypass the typical online ticket sales queues, disadvantaging ordinary fans.

These tactics are not limited to concerts; Premier League football tickets also face similar exploitation. Over 8,000 tickets for a high-profile Arsenal match were found sold illegally on resale sites at inflated prices.

Despite claims from ticket resale platforms like Viagogo that most sellers are small-scale, evidence suggests a significant number of profiles are devoted to bulk ticket sales. Moreover, instances of speculative selling, where sellers list tickets they do not possess, are on the rise, further complicating the market.

As UK lawmakers work to implement stricter regulations, including ticket price caps and punitive measures against unauthorized resales, the narrative portrayed by the investigation emphasizes the growing concern over consumer rights and fair access to live events. The culture secretary has voiced the need for reforms to ensure that revenue from ticket sales benefits the live event sector instead of lining the pockets of unscrupulous touts.