TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Taipei's Department of Cultural Affairs (文化局) announced on Wednesday (Jan. 14) the formation of a specialized task force to combat ticket scalping in Taipei. This initiative aims to address the growing issue of inflated ticket prices for cultural events, which has plagued the city in recent years.
Since 2023, authorities have handled over 190 cases of ticket scalping related to arts and cultural performances, imposing fines exceeding NT$39 million, according to a press release. The most significant penalty, amounting to NT$2.646 million, involved a scalper selling Jay Chou (周杰倫) Carnival World Tour (嘉年華世界巡迴演唱會) tickets originally priced at NT$5,880 for NT$40,000 each.
Officials emphasize that selling tickets bundled with membership fees is also illegal. They have noted a rise in cases where individuals sell tickets along with membership fees, violating laws by exceeding the original ticket price. They urge the public to refrain from engaging in such practices.
The Department of Cultural Affairs reminds citizens that legal responsibility applies regardless of whether a transaction is completed or if one merely assists in scalping activities. The department has established a dedicated mechanism for reporting scalpers, offering a reward of up to 20% of the fine, or NT$100,000, for verified reports.
