If Ticketmaster suspects you are a bot trying to purchase tickets, there are a few things that can happen. The most common outcomes are getting blocked from purchasing tickets or having your orders canceled.
Why Ticketmaster is vigilant about bots
Ticketmaster is extremely vigilant about blocking bots because of problems with ticket scalping and unfair ticket distribution. Some reasons Ticketmaster tries to stop bot purchases include:
- Bots can buy up large quantities of tickets instantly, making it harder for real fans to get tickets.
- Scalpers use bots to sweep up tickets then resell them at inflated prices.
- Bots unfairly circumvent buying limits imposed to give more people a chance.
- It goes against Ticketmaster’s goal of getting tickets into the hands of genuine fans.
To counter these practices, Ticketmaster invests heavily in bot detection and prevention technology. Their systems monitor various signals to try to differentiate bot activity from real human ticket buyers.
Getting blocked from purchasing tickets
If Ticketmaster’s systems detect suspicious activity that may be bot-related, the first thing that will happen is you get blocked from purchasing tickets. Some examples of this include:
- Getting an error saying you can’t access the tickets or complete the transaction.
- Having your purchase flow abruptly halted, often partway through the process.
- Encountering CAPTCHAs you can’t get past.
- Finding tickets “sold out” instantly even right at the sale opening time.
Getting blocked can be frustrating if you are a legitimate customer. Some tips to avoid getting blocked include:
- Use a stable internet connection rather than public/shared WiFi.
- Make sure cookies are enabled on your browser.
- Don’t use auto-fillers or other browser extensions.
- Try a different device like a mobile phone instead of a computer.
Having your ticket orders canceled
Another thing that may happen if Ticketmaster thinks you are a bot is having any ticket purchases canceled. Indications of this could be:
- Getting a notification that your order was voided and tickets removed from your account.
- Seeing credit card charges refunded days or weeks after purchasing.
- Not receiving valid ticket barcodes/QR codes to access the event.
This typically occurs after the transaction when Ticketmaster has time to further evaluate the purchase activity. Suspicious signals that can prompt cancellations include:
- Using an anonymous proxy or VPN service to hide IP address.
- Purchasing very quickly, faster than a human could reasonably complete forms.
- Buying the maximum ticket amount across multiple cards or accounts.
If you lose ticket purchases due to cancellations, you can contact customer service, but the odds of getting reinstated are very low if bots were involved.
Having your Ticketmaster account banned
The most severe action Ticketmaster may take if they believe a person is using bots is banning accounts altogether. Signs of possibly being banned include:
- Being unable to login to your Ticketmaster account.
- Getting errors whenever you try to create a new Ticketmaster account.
- Having credit cards rejected when trying to purchase tickets.
Account bans usually occur after repeat bot-related order cancellations or very blatant bot activity tied to your account. It can be difficult to get Ticketmaster bans lifted, and you may need to speak with customer service to plead your case.
Loss of bonuses and rewards
If Ticketmaster flags your account for suspicious activity, another consequence can be losing access to special programs and rewards. For example:
- Having Verified Fan status revoked, making it harder to get future tickets.
- Losing privileges for presales, reserved tickets, and other fan club perks.
- Forfeiting rewards points, ticket vouchers, or other benefits.
These penalties tend to be temporary during bot-related investigations but demonstrate how botting harms your standing with Ticketmaster.
Legal action in severe cases
In the most extreme cases, Ticketmaster may pursue legal action against bot users caught engaging in egregious violations. While less common, precedents include:
- Suing ticket brokers found to use large-scale bot armies.
- Obtaining court orders to shut down bot services.
- Working with law enforcement on criminal charges for bot-related fraud.
These drastic measures are usually reserved for serious repeat offenders in the mass ticket scalping business. As an individual bot user, you likely won’t face lawsuits or prosecution. However, it illustrates the gravity of flouting Ticketmaster’s rules.
How to reduce your risk of problems
Here are some tips to avoid having issues if Ticketmaster suspects you of botting:
- Only buy tickets for events you genuinely plan to attend.
- Stick to published ticket limits for each person.
- Use your legal name when creating accounts.
- Purchase tickets one at a time through the normal checkout flow.
While nothing is foolproof, following best practices like these will minimize behavior that could appear bot-related. Being patient and persistent also helps demonstrate you are a real fan.
Appealing bot-related enforcement actions
If you do face bot-related penalties on your Ticketmaster account, here are some ways you may be able to appeal:
- Contact customer service and explain you are a legitimate fan/customer.
- Provide proof of identity like a photo ID or utility bill.
- Show the event is local to request waiving geographic restrictions.
- Highlight factors like using a shared device that may have caused confusion.
In some cases, Ticketmaster may overturn enforcements if you demonstrate good faith. However, their priority is upholding fairness and access for all fans.
Purchasing from ticket resale marketplaces
If you are unable to purchase tickets directly from Ticketmaster, you can still shop authorized resale marketplaces like NFL Ticket Exchange and NBA Ticket Marketplace. These platforms let season ticket holders resell extra tickets while providing consumer protections.
Benefits of using the official ticket resale exchanges include:
- Tickets are 100% guaranteed valid.
- Prices are set by sellers, allowing potential deals.
- Support is available if any issues arise.
- No bots are allowed, keeping the playing field even.
While resale tickets cost more in demand, they offer peace of mind. Focus your efforts on finding seats you want at an acceptable price point.
Alternatives to pay over face value
If you want to avoid inflated resale prices, some other options are:
- Wait for last minute deals – Prices often drop leading up to events as sellers panic.
- Buy season ticket packages – Gives access to high demand games at a discount.
- Join a fan club – Unlock access to presales and other exclusive ticket allotments.
- Bid on charity auctions – Supports good causes and bypasses bots.
It takes more effort but exploring alternatives can help you land seats without extreme markup. The key is being flexible on location and timing.
Is using “ticket bots” ethically wrong?
The ethics of using bots to purchase tickets are contested. Some common perspectives include:
- Unethical – Bots cut in line and make acquiring tickets harder for regular fans following the rules.
- Ethical – They increase efficiency and maximize buyers’ ability to get the tickets they want.
- Complex – It depends on whether bots follow ticket limits and combat scalping versus facilitate it.
There are good faith arguments on both sides. In general, using bots leads to poorer outcomes for consumers overall even if some see individual benefit.
Conclusion
Ticketmaster ruthlessly cracks down on suspected bot activity to preserve fairness and access. Consequences of looking like a bot range from purchase blocking to account bans.
To avoid issues, be transparent in your Ticketmaster interactions and restrain ticket quantities. If deemed a bot, immediately appeal the decision for reinstatement. With patience and persistence, real fans can still score seats at regular prices.