If you notice tickets purchased on your Ticketmaster account that you didn’t buy yourself, someone else has likely gained access to your account without your permission. This can be alarming and frustrating, but the good news is that with the right steps, you can secure your account, dispute fraudulent charges, and prevent something like this from happening again.
Confirm it was unauthorized access
First, log into your Ticketmaster account and go to your Order History. Look for any ticket purchases you don’t recognize. Check the details like event name, date, seat location, quantity purchased, and total price. If you spot any orders you definitely didn’t place, it’s time to take action.
Double check that no one else who uses your account, like a family member or spouse, bought the tickets. Sometimes people borrow accounts to purchase tickets as a gift or surprise. But if you confirm it was unauthorized access, you’ll need to secure the account.
Secure your Ticketmaster account
If someone else gained access to your account, change your password immediately. Don’t use an old password or something easy to guess. Create a new, complex password using a mix of upper and lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols.
Also add extra login security like two-factor authentication if Ticketmaster offers it. This requires you to input a code from your phone when logging in from a new device for the first time. It adds an extra layer of protection on your account.
You may also want to remove any saved payment methods if the intruder attempted to make purchases. Delete saved credit cards or PayPal accounts so they can’t use your payment info in the future.
Check if any personal data was compromised
Take a close look at your Ticketmaster account profile and settings to see if the intruder modified anything. Check your name, email, phone number, address, and any other personal info saved there. If changes were made, update the details back to your accurate information.
You’ll also want to watch out for any suspicious emails from Ticketmaster. Attackers sometimes update account email addresses to one they control in order to intercept password reset emails or receipts. Keep an eye on the inbox associated with your Ticketmaster account.
Contact Ticketmaster Support
Reach out to Ticketmaster customer service through their help site. You can submit the order numbers of the fraudulent purchases and explain the unauthorized access situation. Their support team can walk through options like canceling the order or transferring the tickets to your own account if needed.
If you caught the access early enough, they may be able to cancel the entire order before tickets are sent out. But act quickly, as cancellation policies are usually within hours of placing the order.
Dispute charges if needed
If support cannot cancel the fraudulent orders, you may need to dispute the charges with your bank or payment provider. Gather any order details, confirmation emails, and communication with Ticketmaster support.
File a dispute claim with details on the unauthorized access and fraudulent purchases. The bank can assist recovering the costs by doing a chargeback against Ticketmaster. But disputes typically need to be submitted within 60 days of the transaction.
Run antivirus scans
It’s also a good idea to run complete antivirus scans on your devices in case of malware or spyware infection. Attackers sometimes use trojans or keyloggers to steal Ticketmaster account credentials from your computer or phone. An antivirus can detect and remove any threats.
Also update your operating system and software to the latest versions. Applying updates and patches helps secure any vulnerabilities that cybercriminals could exploit to access accounts online.
Reset all account passwords
Take the opportunity to reset passwords on all your important online accounts, not just Ticketmaster. Use strong unique passwords, especially for your email, financial, and shopping accounts. Reusing the same or similar passwords across accounts makes them vulnerable if one is compromised.
You can use a password manager app to securely generate and store complex unique passwords for each account. This way you don’t have to try remembering them all.
Monitor your credit report
Keep an eye out for any suspicious activity that could indicate identity theft, like accounts opened in your name. Check your credit report regularly for any accounts or charges you don’t recognize. Consider freezing your credit to prevent criminals from opening new lines of credit if your details were accessed.
Adjust account settings
To help avoid unauthorized access in the future, update your Ticketmaster account settings. Turn on purchase notifications by email or text so you are informed anytime tickets are bought.
You can also adjust settings like requiring a password for all purchases or single-session checkout. Tightening account access makes it harder for intruders to make changes or purchases again.
Use unique Ticketmaster passwords
Avoid reusing your Ticketmaster password on any other accounts. If you use the same credentials across multiple sites, any breach of one puts the others at risk. Use different passwords for every account for the strongest security.
Set up paperless billing
Transition your Ticketmaster account to digital-only billing and notifications. Paper tickets and statements can be stolen from mailboxes and used fraudulently. Paperless billing adds security since only you can access the electronic receipts.
You’ll also get real-time notifications of any purchases right on your phone or inbox if you go paperless. This makes it faster to identify and report unauthorized activity.
Having your Ticketmaster account compromised can be stressful, but following security best practices and acting quickly after suspicious activity can help limit the damage. Be vigilant about account protection moving forward.
