AceShowbiz - Mexico's Consumer Protection Agency (Profeco) announced on Monday (Feb. 2) that it has commenced actions to levy a fine exceeding 5 million pesos (around $277,800) against Ticketmaster México for purported legal infractions during the ticket sales for the upcoming concerts by BTS at GNP Seguros Stadium this spring.

According to Iván Escalante, the head of Profeco, the ticketing company has a period of 10 business days to provide evidence and respond to the claims, with the deadline set for Feb. 12. He noted that Ticketmaster was officially informed about the proceedings on Jan. 28 and emphasized that three resale platforms—Viagogo, TopHop, and Hello Ticket, located in the U.S., Switzerland, and Spain, respectively—were also instructed to adhere to Mexican laws and prevent unfair practices impacting local consumers.

If these companies fail to comply with Mexican regulations, Escalante cautioned that Profeco would initiate both legal and administrative actions, which could include penalties for legal violations and “potential operational restrictions” on these platforms within Mexico.

Billboard Español reached out to Ticketmaster México for comment but did not receive an immediate reply.

This announcement regarding a potential fine comes nearly two weeks after Profeco called on Ticketmaster and promoter Ocesa to clarify ticket pricing, the venue layout, and the number of tickets available for each sales phase. This request followed over 4,700 inquiries from members of ARMY, the devoted fanbase of BTS, who demanded transparency and fairness throughout the ticket sales process.

In a statement circulated to Billboard Español last week, Ticketmaster México reported that ticket sales for BTS had experienced “unprecedented demand,” with more than 2.1 million users flocking to the platform in search of tickets, and a peak of 1.1 million individuals in the virtual queue during both presales and general sales. The company clarified that it does not employ dynamic pricing or algorithms to alter ticket prices during sales, affirming that “prices were determined by the artist, their team, and the promoter based on the location of each section, and remained consistent throughout the presale and sale process.”

The overwhelming demand for tickets for the BTS concerts scheduled for May 7, 9, and 10 at GNP Seguros Stadium in Mexico City prompted the Mexican president, Claudia Sheinbaum, to issue a diplomatic note to South Korean officials, highlighting the significant interest surrounding the event.