Clerk convicted over counterfeit Sammi Cheng concert ticket scams
A former administrative clerk was convicted on six fraud counts for selling counterfeit Sammi Cheng concert tickets at railway stations in 2024. The judge rejected her defence claims and remanded her in custody pending sentencing on October 30.
A 34-year-old former administrative clerk was convicted on all six counts of fraud and attempted fraud at Kwun Tong Magistrates' Courts on Friday for selling counterfeit tickets to pop star Sammi Cheng's world tour at railway stations two years ago.
Deputy District Court Judge Li Chi-ho rejected the testimony of the defendant, Mong, ruling that her claims of innocence were highly unreasonable and that she was fully aware the tickets were forged. The defence revealed in mitigation that Mong suffers from severe depression and active suicidal tendencies, prompting psychiatric recommendations for correctional staff to closely monitor her safety. Li adjourned sentencing to October 30 pending a background report, and the defendant was remanded in custody.
The prosecution said six victims had separately inquired about tickets for the "ou & Mi Sammi Cheng Live" concert on local online marketplace Carousell and social media platform Facebook. Scammers offered pairs of tickets at prices ranging from HK$1,600 to HK$3,500, arranging in-person handovers at Hung Hom and Mong Kok East railway stations.
Mong met buyers at the designated stations, where she actively worked to earn their trust by shining an ultraviolet flashlight onto the tickets to demonstrate what she claimed were authentic anti-counterfeiting watermarks. Five buyers fell victim to the ruse, handing over a collective sum of HK$9,100, only to discover they had been defrauded when venue staff turned them away on the night of the concert. The sixth buyer grew suspicious during the exchange and immediately flagged down patrolling police officers to arrest Mong.
During the trial, the defence disputed the voluntariness of Mong's initial confession, claiming she was intimidated into admitting the crimes under the impression she would not be allowed to leave otherwise. Li dismissed this explanation as entirely illogical, questioning why Mong did not query her continued detention after giving the statement if she truly believed a confession was her ticket to freedom.
Mong further testified that she was desperate for money to fund her mother's medical treatments and was merely acting on instructions from a handler named "Kelvin" who watched from a distance. Li dismissed this narrative as a calculated fabrication, questioning why any coordinator would incur unnecessary expenses to hire Mong for deliveries he could have easily completed himself.
Having accepted Mong's initial voluntary confession in its entirety, the judge ruled that she acted with full knowledge of the fraud, finding her guilty on five counts of fraud and one count of attempted fraud.