K-pop fans overseas are reporting a series of cases of payment fraud involving credit cards and ATMs to purchase concert tickets, leading to growing concerns among K-pop fan clubs.
On July 26, Koreaboo.com, an online media outlet that covers K-pop-related news, reported that credit cards used by overseas ATEEZ fan club members were being charged at Walmart and other stores. In response, fan club members are filing claims in South Korea, seeking assistance.
The media outlet noted that the illegally charged cards had one common factor: they were used to purchase concert tickets for K-pop singers. As a result, affected fans are demanding that South Korea delete their card information and provide compensation for the damages they incurred.
ATEEZ fans overseas have been warning fellow members on platforms like Twitter and Instagram about fraudulent charges in their bank accounts.
“If you paid for your membership through b.stage, please check your bank account immediately,” a fan with the username “Aphrodite” posted on July 18. The fan shared records indicating that $143.73 and $100.93 were withdrawn from the bank in Walmart’s name.
Another fan, “Cheese Fries,” also reported being charged twice on the same day at a Walmart in Bentonville, Arkansas, urging others to “please check your account and cancel the card transaction.”
These credit card fraud cases are not limited to ATEEZ fan club members; BTS fan club members and overseas K-pop fans who purchased KCON tickets are also affected, leading to panic among fan clubs.
Currently, South Korea’s overseas payment system requires overseas fans to use Eximbay, an overseas credit card payment service provider, to buy tickets through Korean platforms. Consequently, some overseas fans suspect that their credit card data might have been leaked from Eximbay, and they are requesting the deletion of their information.
However, some victims claim they did not use Eximbay, suggesting that the data might have been stolen through b.stage, a fan club platform.
Bank officials are advising individuals to thoroughly check their bank accounts, freeze their cards, and dispute any unauthorized transactions with their banks. They emphasize the importance of notifying the bank and obtaining a new card number if data compromise is suspected.
“If your data has been compromised, it’s dangerous to continue using the card with the same number,” said an official, adding, “Even if it’s inconvenient, you should promptly notify your bank and get a new card number.”
BY NICOLE CHANG [chang.nicole@koreadaily.com]
