As KL braces for concert surge, new ‘BTS’ initiative aims to curb ticket scams

KUALA LUMPUR, May 26 — Communications Minister Datuk Fahmi Fadzil has previewed Malaysia’s first national consumer protection campaign, the ‘Beli Tiket Selamat’ (BTS) initiative, which aims to curb event ticket fraud and scams.

This comes as Malaysia enters the ‘KL Headline Season,’ during which the city is expected to host at least 25 international music performances across multiple venues.

An estimated 500,000 fans from Malaysia and across the region are expected to attend these events throughout the year.

However, as demand for concert tickets surges, so does the threat of fraudulent activity.

“This campaign was created specifically to protect the people from the threat of event ticket scams.

“It is not impossible that artificial intelligence (AI) and deepfake advertisements will be used to sell fraudulent event tickets,” Fahmi said during the launch of the KL Headline Season in Kuala Lumpur last night.

Sharing more about the initiative, Fahmi explained that BTS aims to protect Malaysians before, during, and after ticket fraud incidents through awareness, victim support, and structured intelligence sharing with enforcement agencies.

“The full portal and online help desks will be launched in the coming weeks. At the centre of this initiative is belitiketselamat – Malaysia’s first dedicated platform for ticket scam awareness, victim reporting, and verified scam intelligence.

“However, BTS does not replace the roles of the National Scam Response Centre (NSRC), the PDRM’s Commercial Crime Investigation Department (CCID), or the Ministry of Domestic Trade and Cost of Living (KPDN). Instead, it strengthens enforcement efforts by providing actionable intelligence to support faster intervention,” he said.

Under the initiative, future tickets issued in Malaysia will soon carry a BTS advisory message encouraging buyers to purchase only from verified platforms and to identify warning signs of scams before engaging with listings on social media or messaging apps.

Aside from the digital platform, participating venues will also host BTS help desks. These will enable victims of ticket scams to receive a reference number, a pre-filled NSRC report, and guidance on next steps within 15 minutes.

“Every report submitted will contribute to a national intelligence ecosystem that provides regular alerts to enforcement agencies and the public, helping Malaysians recognise ticket scams more easily,” Fahmi said.

He added that the initiative reflects a genuine partnership between the government, industry, and the rakyat, with each playing an important role in strengthening consumer protection.

The KL Headline Season launch, hosted by concert promoters Live Nation Malaysia and PR Worldwide, was also attended by Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Federal Territories) Hannah Yeoh.