K-Pop Goods Scam Warning 2026: Never Pay a Stranger First, Fraud Reports Up 4x in Korea

Bottom line: If a stranger on social media offers to buy K-pop merchandise on your behalf and asks you to send money first, don't. If you need official merchandise, buy it only through official MD stores, the venue itself, or official online stores.

If you didn't know: This "pay first, then vanish" scam is spreading fast. According to Korean National Police Agency data, fraud reports from foreign victims jumped from 5,307 in 2023 to 19,907 in 2025, roughly a fourfold increase in two years. During a K-pop world tour concert in Busan this past June, 3 of 5 reported crimes against foreigners, or 60%, were fraud cases.

Posts offering to "buy it for you since I'm in Korea" circulate often on X (formerly Twitter) and elsewhere. It's tempting for fans abroad chasing a sold-out album or a limited photocard, but once the money is sent, the person often goes silent. Citing Korean police and parliamentary data, The Korea Times reported that the nationality of these scammers is unconfirmed and they may not be Korean — this is fraud that happens in Korea, not necessarily fraud committed by Koreans.

The number of foreign crime victims overall also rose from 28,048 in 2023 to 50,975 in 2025, up 81.7%, and victims of fraud and embezzlement specifically nearly tripled, from 7,475 to 22,215. The risk rises around major concert dates, so the safest move is to decline any upfront payment request from a stranger, and if you've already been scammed, report it to the nearest police station, call 112, or contact the 1330 Korea Travel Helpline.

Journey stage: During the trip · Verified 2026-10-21 · Source The Korea Times