Man detained for spreading rumors about popular singer concert ticket prices

A man has been sentenced to seven days of detention and fined 1,000 yuan ($149) for fabricating and spreading rumors about ticket prices for a popular singer's concert, the Ministry of Public Security said on Wednesday.

According to the ministry's cybersecurity bureau, the 33-year-old man, surnamed Wang, fabricated the claims to attract online traffic for his ticket-buying proxy business. He posted them on his WeChat Moments on Oct 13, claiming that front-row tickets for a singer surnamed Xiao were selling for as much as 250,000 yuan, while second- and third-row seats cost 200,000 yuan and 190,000 yuan, respectively. Wang also claimed that tickets had been booked as early as May and that only a few remained.

The rumors spread rapidly, prompting widespread online discussion and trending multiple times on social media platforms, disrupting public order, the bureau said. Wang was punished in accordance with the law.

Chinese media outlets previously identified the singer, who is also an actor, as 35-year-old Xiao Zhan, one of the most recognizable figures in the Chinese entertainment industry, known for his performances in television dramas. His concerts are scheduled to take place in Nanjing, Jiangsu province, and Shanghai in late October and early November.

On Oct 18, ticketing service provider Damai said in a statement that it took seriously false online claims that front-row tickets for a Xiao Zhan concert were being sold for 250,000 yuan and had actively cooperated with authorities in their investigation.