How to Build a Ticketing Evidence Pack: Photos, Receipts and Messages That Win Chargebacks

Beat ticket fraud and denied-entry denials: build an evidence pack that wins chargebacks

Hook: You paid for BTS’s Arirang tour tickets, bought from what looked like a legit reseller, and then got turned away at the gate — or the barcode didn’t scan, or the promoter cancelled without refund. You’re not alone. In 2025–2026 concert seasons, ticket fraud, duplicated QR codes, and reseller disputes surged. The fastest, cleanest way to recover your money is a professionally organized evidence pack for a refund request and a bank chargeback.

Why this matters now (2026 trends)

Late 2025 saw a big spike in ticketing disputes during major tours as demand outpaced supply and bad actors used AI-enhanced ticket images and bulk-generated QR fakes. Promoters and venues are responding with tighter ID-linked tickets, and some markets piloted blockchain-backed transfer systems in 2025 and early 2026. That’s progress — but the transition is uneven. Until tickets are universally identity-tied, consumers must be ready to present airtight evidence when asking platforms, sellers, and card issuers for refunds.

What winning evidence does

• Shows a clear timeline and chain of events
• Proves purchase and attempted entry
• Demonstrates seller/platform communication and refusal or inability to refund
• Makes it easy for your bank, fraud team, or regulator to act quickly

Immediate steps at the venue (first 0–2 hours)

If you're denied entry or discover a suspicious ticket at the event, act fast. These first actions create the strongest evidence.

1. Document the denial: Ask gate staff for a written refusal or incident reference. If they won’t provide it, record a short video (30–90 seconds) at the gate explaining what happened, showing staff and the scanner area. Speak clearly and state the time, your name, and the problem. Keep it calm and factual.
2. Get names and contact info: Note the ticketing staff’s names, shift ID, and any incident number from the venue’s ticketing desk.
3. Preserve the ticket medium: Keep the physical ticket, wristband, or screenshot. Don’t alter it. Photograph both sides with your phone’s camera app (not a screenshot of the photo), ensuring timestamp and location services remain enabled where possible.
4. Ask for a venue scan receipt: Some venues can email or print a scan log indicating the barcode was invalid or already scanned. Request this and photograph or save the email.
5. Collect witness contact info: If you attended with friends, get their names and short written statements describing the denial.

What to collect: the definitive evidence checklist

Use this checklist to capture and store the items your bank, card network, or regulator will expect. Think of each item as an exhibit you’ll label and reference in a formal letter.

1. Purchase proof
   • Order confirmation email (full headers if digital) showing seller/marketplace, price, date/time, and order number.
   • Payment record: bank statement screenshot showing merchant name and amount (redact full card number; show last 4 digits).
   • Any invoice or receipt PDF.
2. Ticket itself
   • High-resolution photos of ticket QR/barcode and any physical markings (both sides).
   • Screenshot of digital ticket with app name and timestamps visible; save the original email attachment (don’t re-save as an image if possible).
   • Photograph venue signage that links the ticket to the event (billboard, entrance sign).
3. Denial or fraud evidence
   • Video of gate denial or staff commentary (short clip).
   • Venue scan log or staff written refusal.
   • Photos of conflicting tickets scanned at the same time (if staff allows).
4. Seller/reseller listings and profile
   • Full screenshots of the listing you bought from, including the seller profile, price, listing date, and any guarantee claims.
   • Seller’s contact details and social profile screenshots (preserve messages).
5. Communications log
   • Complete screenshots (or exported PDFs) of chats, emails, DMs, text messages with the seller or platform. Capture timestamps and adapter headers.
   • Record any phone call attempts and keep call logs (time and duration).
6. Third-party corroboration
   • Witness statements and photos from companions (signed or emailed).
   • Any public notices from the promoter or venue about ticket issues.
7. Metadata and preservation proof
   • Original files with EXIF metadata preserved where possible. If you must upload images, keep the untouched originals in a secure folder — see a portable preservation lab guide for best practices.
   • Save timestamps and a short note about how and when each file was created.

Practical tips for preserving digital evidence

• Share files to yourself via email as attachments (not via social apps that compress). That preserves originals.
• On iPhone, use "Save to Files" and choose "Keep Originals" when sharing; on Android, use "Share as file" or upload the image to Google Drive in original quality.
• To preserve chat timestamps, use built-in export functions (WhatsApp export, iMessage print-to-PDF) or take full-screen screenshots that include time and contact name.
• Do not alter filenames or image content. Create a working copy for annotations and keep originals untouched.

How to assemble the pack: naming, order, and index

Create a single PDF or a ZIP with a clear index. Use a consistent naming convention and label exhibits clearly.

1. Name the folder: "EvidencePack_[EventName]_[Venue]_[Date]_[YourLastName]".
2. Include a 1-page cover: event name (BTS - Arirang Tour), date, ticket seat (if any), purchase method, and short chronology (time-ordered bullet list).
3. Create an Exhibit Index (Exhibit A, B, C...). Each exhibit should have one-line description and file name; use a simple label printer or sticker printer for physical folders if you maintain paper copies.
4. Convert screenshots and photos to PDF pages (preserve orientation) and merge in chronological order. Keep a separate folder for originals; follow organized file systems such as the one in the collaborative tagging playbook.
5. Include a short affidavit (signed and dated) describing what happened. This strengthens credibility for banks and courts.

Sample chronology (use as template)

1. 2026-03-27 10:12 — Purchased two Arirang Tour tickets from ResellerX listing (Order #12345). Attached Exhibit A (order email) and Exhibit B (bank transaction). 2. 2026-04-05 19:15 — Arrived at venue; scanner showed "ticket already used." Venue staff refused entry and provided incident ID #7890. Attached Exhibit C (venue statement) and Exhibit D (video of gate). 3. 2026-04-05 21:02 — Contacted seller via DM; no response. Screenshots attached as Exhibit E. 4. 2026-04-07 09:00 — Submitted refund request to seller and platform; no reply. Attached Exhibit F (refund request email). 5. 2026-04-09 11:40 — Contacted card issuer and submitted Evidence Pack.

Templates you can use right now

1) Refund request email to seller/platform

Subject: Refund request — Order #12345 — BTS Arirang Tour [Date]

Body (copy-paste-ready):

Dear [Seller or Platform Support], On [date] I purchased [number] ticket(s) for the BTS Arirang Tour at [venue] (Order #12345). At entry on [date/time] I was denied admission due to an invalid/previously used ticket. I have attached the following evidence: purchase confirmation (Exhibit A), payment record (Exhibit B), venue incident note (Exhibit C), and photos/videos of the denial (Exhibit D). Please refund the full purchase amount of [amount] to the original payment method within 14 days. If you do not, I will escalate the matter to my card issuer for a chargeback and to consumer protection authorities. Respectfully, [Your name] [Phone] [Last 4 of card]

2) Chargeback letter/email to your bank (attach exhibits)

Subject: Dispute / Chargeback request — Transaction [last 4 digits] — Order #12345

Body (copy-paste-ready):

Dear [Bank Card Services], I am formally disputing the charge of [amount] on [transaction date], merchant [merchant/reseller name], transaction ID [id]. I purchased tickets to the BTS Arirang Tour (Event date [date]) and was denied entry due to an invalid/previously-used ticket. I requested a refund from the seller/platform on [date] with no resolution. I have attached an Evidence Pack with Exhibit A–F showing (1) purchase, (2) venue denial, and (3) seller non-response. Please initiate a chargeback on the basis that goods/services were not provided as described (denied entry) and that this transaction appears fraudulent. I authorize you to pursue this dispute on my behalf. Sincerely, [Your name] [Account number last 4] [Date]

3) Short phone script for calling the bank

1. "Hello — I need to file a dispute/chargeback for a purchase on [date] for [amount] with merchant [name]. I attempted to use the ticket but was denied entry, and the seller/platform failed to refund."
2. Have your evidence pack ready and say: "I can provide an evidence pack with order confirmation, venue incident note, and communications. What is the next step and timeline for your investigation?"
3. Ask for a reference number, expected response time, and whether they will provisionally credit your account.

Advanced strategies and legal options (when simple refund fails)

If the seller/platform denies responsibility or your bank initially declines the chargeback, escalate. Here are proactive steps used successfully in 2025–2026 cases:

• File with consumer protection: Submit your pack to your national consumer agency. Many agencies will contact the platform directly.
• Open a small claims suit: Evidence packs are the backbone of small claims filings — attach your indexed exhibits and affidavit. In many jurisdictions, refunded amounts plus court costs are common remedies.
• Public pressure: Post a calm, factual account on the platform’s review channels and tag the promoter/venue on social media. Redacted evidence and a clear timeline can pressure marketplaces to act quickly (but avoid posting sensitive personal data). Use Bluesky and other live platforms strategically — see how new features change discoverability (Bluesky guidance).
• Contact the promoter/artist team: For large tours (like BTS), promoters often have dedicated ticketing teams. Evidence packs sent to promoter legal/ticketing email addresses can trigger internal investigations.

Common questions and pitfalls

How long do I have to file a chargeback?

Time limits vary. Most banks require disputes within 60–120 days of the transaction or event, depending on reason codes and card network rules. In 2026, some issuers extended fraud windows for pandemic-era disputes, but always check your card issuer’s current policy and act quickly.

Will the bank ask for originals?

Typically, scanned PDFs and originals saved in a secure cloud are enough. Keep originals for at least 6–12 months in case the bank or court requests them later.

Should I post the ticket online to warn others?

You may warn others, but redact personal and payment details. Public posts are useful pressure tools; they’re even more effective when paired with an evidence pack you can show to the platform publicly and privately.

What if the seller claims they transferred the ticket?

Get proof of transfer (transfer confirmation email, proof that transfer was to a different email or name). If the ticket was resold but not transferred properly, that’s a strong chargeback/consumer complaint point.

Real-world example (anonymized)

In December 2025 a group of fans purchased resale tickets to a major K-pop event. At the gate, five attendees were denied entry — the QR codes had duplicated across multiple phones. The fans recorded the denial, collected a venue incident report, captured the seller’s DMs promising transfers, and assembled a 12-page evidence pack. Two weeks after filing with their card issuers and sending a formal refund request to the platform, the bank provisionally credited each attendee. The platform later refunded fully and blocked the seller’s account. The decisive factors: venue-issued denial note, payment proof, seller messages promising valid tickets, and a clear timeline. This exact blueprint is what you’ll replicate for BTS Arirang tour disputes.

Technical checklist: file types and folder structure

• Folder: EvidencePack_BTS_Arirang_YYYYMMDD
• Subfolders: Originals | PDFs | Exhibits | Affidavit
• File naming: ExhibitA_OrderConfirmation.pdf, ExhibitB_BankTransaction.pdf, ExhibitC_VenueNote.jpg, ExhibitD_VideoGateDenial.mp4
• Index.pdf — one-page list referencing each exhibit (use collaborative file-tagging approaches from the collaborative tagging playbook).

Privacy and legal cautions

• Redact card numbers leaving only the last 4 digits for identification purposes.
• Do not publish images that include the full payment card, passport, or sensitive ID details.
• If you plan to sue, check local rules about evidence; some courts require notarized affidavits for electronic evidence—ask your small claims court clerk.

Checklist summary you can copy

1. At venue: request incident note, collect staff names, record short video.
2. Capture original ticket photos and email attachments.
3. Save payment evidence and export chat logs with seller/platform.
4. Create a one-page chronology and affidavit.
5. Assemble PDF/ZIP with clear Exhibit Index and label everything.
6. Send formal refund request to seller/platform with deadline (e.g., 14 days).
7. File dispute with card issuer attaching Evidence Pack; follow up by phone with reference number.
8. If unresolved, escalate to consumer protection, small claims, and promoter/artist team.

Final tips: make it easy for decision-makers

• Decision-makers (fraud analysts, bank dispute handlers, small-claims clerks) skim. Keep the chronology short and attach exhibits in the order you reference them.
• Use clear labels like Exhibit A — Purchase; Exhibit B — Payment; Exhibit C — Venue Denial; Exhibit D — Seller Messages.
• Always remain factual and unemotional in written communications. Facts win cases faster than complaints.

Call-to-action

If you’re dealing with denied entry or suspect ticket fraud from a reseller on the BTS Arirang tour or any major event, start building your evidence pack now. Use the templates and checklist above, preserve originals, and contact your card issuer within your bank’s dispute window. Need the ready-made pack templates (affidavit, index, and email/phone scripts) tailored to your case? Visit complaint.page’s templates library or contact our team for a guided review of your evidence pack — we’ll help make it chargeback-ready.

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