Ticketmaster’s Verified Fan program is designed to help get more tickets into the hands of genuine fans during high demand onsales. Here is an overview of how the Verified Fan system works and how Ticketmaster identifies verified fans:
What is a Verified Fan on Ticketmaster?
A Verified Fan is a Ticketmaster user who has gone through an extra step to register for a specific event ahead of the onsale date. By registering as a Verified Fan, you get early access to purchase tickets before the general public onsale. This helps prevent bots and scalpers from scooping up all the tickets and lets more go directly to real fans.
To become a Verified Fan, you need to register on Ticketmaster with your personal information including name, email address, and phone number. You may need to provide additional details like your mailing address or last 4 digits of your credit card. Ticketmaster uses this info to verify you are a real fan interested in attending the event, not a bot or someone looking to resell the tickets.
The Verified Fan Registration Process
Here are the steps to register as a Verified Fan:
- Find the event page on Ticketmaster. There will be a button or link to “Register for Verified Fan”.
- Click the link and fill out the registration form with your personal info like name, email, phone number, etc.
- Agree to the Verified Fan terms and conditions.
- Wait for Ticketmaster to verify your registration. You’ll get an email confirming your status.
- If verified, you’ll get a code to access the early Verified Fan presale before general public onsale.
The registration window is usually open for a limited time leading up to when tickets go onsale. The process and requirements can vary between events, but in general you need to provide enough info for Ticketmaster to verify you are an actual fan.
How Ticketmaster Verifies You Are a Fan
Ticketmaster uses several methods to confirm Verified Fan registrants are real fans, not scalpers or bots. Here are some of the ways they identify and validate fans:
1. Checking Registration Information
When you register as a Verified Fan, you need to provide personal info like your name, email address, phone number, and sometimes mailing address. Ticketmaster cross-checks this against their user database to make sure you are a real Ticketmaster account holder.
They screen for suspicious info like brand new accounts, temporary email addresses, phone numbers that don’t match your location, etc. Any red flags may get you rejected as a Verified Fan.
2. Analyzing Your Ticketmaster History
Ticketmaster looks at your past ticket purchases and event browsing history within your Ticketmaster account. If you have a record of buying tickets or regularly checking out certain artists, teams, or venues, it helps verify you are an active fan.
New users with no Ticketmaster history have a harder time getting Verified Fan status. Having some valid activity related to that event’s performers helps prove you are a genuine fan.
3. Ticketmaster’s Anti-Scalping Database
Over the years Ticketmaster has accumulated extensive data on known scalpers, brokers, and suspected bot accounts. They screen Verified Fan registrants against this database to identify potential resale buyers trying to pose as fans.
If your info matches any blacklisted sources like a known brokerage or scalper group, you will likely fail the Verified Fan check even if your individual account looks legitimate.
4. Verification Codes and Access Links
Getting approved as a Verified Fan is just the first step. To actually access the presale you need to use the unique code emailed to you along with clicking the personalized presale link.
These extra barriers confirm your identity right when tickets go onsale rather than just at registration. It adds another layer of protection against unauthorized buyers sneaking through verification.
5. Onsale Activity Monitoring
During the actual Verified Fan presale, Ticketmaster monitors real time activity for suspicious patterns like bots rapidly cycling through ticket options. Unusual activity can get presale access revoked and tickets cancelled even after purchase.
By continually screening throughout the checkout process, Ticketmaster further verifies you are truly an individual fan making purchases for yourself.
Tips for Improving Your Chances
Because registration doesn’t guarantee verification, it helps to boost your odds where possible. Here are some tips for getting successfully verified:
- Register as early as possible within the verification window.
- Use an active Ticketmaster account with your real personal info.
- Make sure your Ticketmaster history shows related event purchases and browsing.
- Only register for events you legitimately plan to attend if verified.
- Check your email frequently including spam folders for verification messages.
- Follow all Ticketmaster’s terms, requirements, and instructions carefully.
Keep in mind that high demand shows sell out fast even in the Verified Fan presale. So register early, make sure your account is in good standing, and you’ll have the best shot at getting verified and scoring tickets.
Why Verifying Fans Matters
The Verified Fan process may seem inconvenient with its extra steps and hoops to jump through. But it provides big benefits:
- More tickets to real fans – Keeps brokers and scalpers from gobbling up all the seats.
- Better onsale experience – Reduces website crashes and long waits caused by bots.
- Fairer prices – Limits immediate inflated resale prices since more fans buy directly.
- Peace of mind – Ticketmaster cancels suspicious orders so fans don’t buy invalid tickets.
Ticketmaster continues updating its verification tools and methods over time. But ultimately the goal remains giving more control and tickets access directly to genuine fans first.
Final Tips for Verified Fans
Here are some final tips for making the most of the Ticketmaster Verified Fan program:
- Register early for your best shot at verification.
- Use an active account with your real personal info.
- Be patient and persistent through any onsale glitches.
- Save your Verified Fan presale code and link until onsale time.
- Understand your verification doesn’t guarantee tickets.
- Don’t buy tickets you can’t personally attend just to resell.
While not perfect, Verified Fan provides a more level playing field for fans to buy event tickets. Just remember to follow all requirements so Ticketmaster can successfully verify you are a genuine fan.
