Ticket Touts Using Overseas ‘Puller’ Networks to Secure Hundreds of Concert Tickets, BBC Finds

A BBC investigation has uncovered the global networks behind the bulk-buying of tickets for major UK music events.

The investigation, now available to view on BBC iPlayer, revealed that ticket touts are employing overseas workers to snap up passes for concerts by artists such as Taylor Swift and Oasis, before reselling them at vastly inflated prices.

Posing as a prospective tout, a BBC reporter was offered access to a team of so-called “ticket pullers” in Pakistan, hired to acquire hundreds of tickets for high-demand shows. One tout claimed their team had secured hundreds of seats for Swift’s Eras Tour and boasted of buying up 300 Coldplay tickets during the same week as Oasis sales.

The practice, which experts say may involve fraudulent use of automated software and multiple online identities, allows touts to bypass online queues and hoard tickets – pricing genuine fans out of live events.

In secretly recorded footage, the head of one pulling operation in Pakistan told the BBC that he could establish a dedicated team capable of purchasing large volumes of tickets. He alleged that one UK-based tout had made over £500,000 last year, and said others were “making millions.”

Reg Walker, a veteran of the ticketing industry, infiltrated a secret online group claiming to use underhand methods to obtain thousands of tickets. He demonstrated how members could generate up to 100,000 fake online queue passes – likening the tactic to “100,000 people all of a sudden turning up and pushing in front of you.”

He questioned the due diligence of resale platforms: “If someone is listing hundreds of high-demand tickets, where did they get them from?”

Fans Priced Out

Demand for tickets to Oasis’ reunion tour, which kicks off in Cardiff next Friday, has been immense. Over 900,000 tickets were sold, yet thousands of fans were left disappointed, unable to secure tickets despite hours of queuing online.

Shortly after the presale in August, Oasis tickets began appearing on resale platforms such as Viagogo and StubHub for more than £6,000 – around 40 times the original face value of a standing ticket.

One former Viagogo employee, speaking anonymously, claimed some user profiles listed thousands of tickets. “You’re not allowing a lot of people to get access because you’re hoarding the tickets,” he said.

Viagogo strongly denied this claim, saying 73% of its sellers listed fewer than five tickets, and that sellers include promoters and sports clubs.

The investigation also highlighted the controversial practice of “speculative selling”, where touts list tickets they do not yet own. BBC Wales Investigates found more than 100 such listings for a Catfish and the Bottlemen concert in Cardiff – with the same seat numbers appearing on both Viagogo and Ticketmaster.

Viagogo said it had removed listings found to contravene its policies after being presented with the BBC’s findings.

Calls for Tougher Action

The UK government is reviewing measures to tackle ticket touting, including a price cap on resale listings – potentially limiting prices to no more than 30% above face value – larger fines, and a new licensing system.

Lisa Nandy, Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, said the aim was to “strengthen consumer protections and stop fans getting ripped off”, adding that revenue from ticket sales should “go back into our incredible live events sector, instead of into the pockets of greedy touts.”

But critics argue the proposed reforms do not go far enough. Dame Caroline Dinenage, chair of the Government’s Culture, Media and Sport Committee, described the industry as “a minefield” for consumers.

The UK faces a significant enforcement challenge, as similar laws in the Republic of Ireland – introduced in 2021 to prevent above-face-value resale – are also being flouted.

The BBC investigation found tickets for events in Ireland, including rugby internationals and music concerts, advertised for several times their original price.

With demand for live entertainment surging, the scale and sophistication of the touting industry continues to grow – and campaigners say meaningful change will only come through robust enforcement and regulation of both resellers and ticketing platforms.

Scams and Scandals: The Great British Rip-Off is available to watch now on BBC iPlayer.