Kuala Lampur, Sept. 9 -- Getting a limited reservation can feel like a race. A booking opens, demand rises immediately, and within minutes the available slots may be gone. The frustration becomes greater when the same reservation later appears through an unofficial channel at a much higher price. This is where the term scalper comes into the picture. A scalper is someone who obtains a limited product, ticket or reservation with the intention of selling it again at a higher price.

Scalping is not a new practice, but the digital economy has made it much easier and faster. Reservations can be secured online within seconds and then offered for resale through social media, messaging applications or other online channels. When demand is much h...