Ticketmaster, the leading online ticket vendor globally, has declared its commitment to thwarting large-scale scalpers from utilizing numerous fake Ticketmaster accounts to purchase and resell tickets for various entertainment events. This initiative follows a recent lawsuit filed by the U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) in September, accusing Ticketmaster and its parent company, LiveNation, of engaging in illegal ticket resale tactics and misleading artists and consumers regarding ticket prices and limits.
Fans have long been frustrated by the challenge of securing face-value tickets directly from Ticketmaster, as scalpers often acquire most tickets for popular events and resell them at inflated prices on secondary platforms. The FTC lawsuit, partially based on findings from a 2018 CBC News/Toronto Star investigation, revealed how Ticketmaster collaborated with mass scalpers, allowing them to use fake accounts to bypass ticket-buying restrictions.
In response to the lawsuit, Ticketmaster has defended its practices while acknowledging the prevalence of ticket brokers maintaining multiple accounts through deceptive means. The company plans to limit users to one account and implement advanced AI security measures to detect fraudulent activities effectively. Additionally, Ticketmaster will discontinue a portion of its TradeDesk platform, which facilitates ticket reselling, and restrict the mass reselling of concert tickets, though exceptions may be made for sports and theatre tickets.
Despite past collaborations with scalpers, Ticketmaster’s recent pledge to combat fraudulent activities aligns with ongoing efforts by regulatory authorities and policymakers to ensure fair ticket sales practices. The company’s shift in approach comes amidst mounting legal challenges and increased scrutiny on its operations, signaling a significant change in its ticketing policies.