Ticketmaster is a popular website and mobile app for purchasing event tickets online. It allows customers to buy tickets for concerts, sports games, theater shows and more. However, like many major online retailers, Ticketmaster is also vulnerable to fraud and scams.
What types of Ticketmaster fraud are common?
Some common types of fraud associated with Ticketmaster include:
- Fake websites or apps posing as Ticketmaster to steal financial information
- Ticket scams where sellers offer tickets they don’t actually have
- Third-party resellers using bots to buy up tickets then reselling at inflated prices
- Counterfeit or fake tickets being sold
- Credit card fraud where credit card details are stolen to purchase tickets
Victims of Ticketmaster fraud may only find out the tickets are invalid or non-existent when they show up for the event. Some signs of potential fraud include prices that seem too good to be true, sellers insisting on unusual payment methods like wire transfers, or lack of buyer protection offered.
How can I protect myself from Ticketmaster fraud?
Here are some tips to avoid Ticketmaster scams and fraud:
- Only purchase tickets through the official Ticketmaster website or mobile app. Avoid third party reseller sites.
- Be wary of social media offers for event tickets at amazing prices. Many are scams.
- Never pay with direct bank transfers, gift cards, cryptocurrency or other unusual payment methods. Use credit cards to enable chargebacks.
- Carefully review ticket details before purchasing. Fraudsters often copy images or descriptions from real events.
- Avoid sellers who want to move the transaction off Ticketmaster to another platform.
- Make sure the web address is Ticketmaster.com – scammers create lookalike sites.
What should I do if I am the victim of Ticketmaster fraud?
If you purchased tickets through Ticketmaster and suspect fraud, contact Ticketmaster customer support immediately. Their fraud support agents can help confirm if tickets are legitimate and may be able to source replacements if not.
You should also take measures like:
- Contact your bank or credit card company to halt payments, dispute charges and get new cards if needed.
- Report the scam to sites like the Better Business Bureau and Federal Trade Commission.
- File a complaint with the police detailing the fraud.
- Gather details and evidence about the transaction, seller and communication to aid investigations.
- Change passwords on breached accounts to protect security.
- Monitor your credit reports and accounts for signs of further misuse of information.
How can I contact Ticketmaster fraud support?
If you need to report fraud, contact Ticketmaster support through the following methods:
- Online support request form – Log into your Ticketmaster account and submit a request detailing the issue.
- Live chat support – Initiate a live chat on Ticketmaster’s contact page and explain the fraud to an agent.
- Phone – Call Ticketmaster’s customer service line at +1 800-653-8000 to speak with a fraud support agent.
- Email – Send details of the fraud to [email protected] or [email protected].
- Social media – Message @Ticketmaster on Twitter or Facebook for assistance.
When contacting Ticketmaster, provide order numbers, account details, ticket information, seller/website details and any other relevant evidence. Support agents will investigate and can confirm if fraud occurred under Ticketmaster’s 100% Buyer Guarantee. They may also be able to block fraudulent sellers or coordinate with law enforcement.
What steps does Ticketmaster take to combat fraud?
Ticketmaster utilizes a range of measures to detect and prevent fraudulent activity on its platform, including:
- Requiring sellers to register business details to post ticket listings.
- Verifying third-party ticket resellers.
- Monitoring for suspicious patterns like bulk ticket purchases.
- Using CAPTCHA and other tools to block bots.
- Screening advertisements and flagging offers below face value.
- Tracing IP addresses to identify high risk locations.
- Limiting ticket purchases and cancellations to deter scalping.
- Providing the 100% Buyer Guarantee on ticket purchases.
Ticketmaster also has a dedicated Trust and Safety team that investigates fraud using data analytics, forensic tools and partnerships with law enforcement. Ongoing anti-fraud efforts include machine learning to identify high risk transactions and enhanced ID verification for purchasers.
What are some examples of Ticketmaster fraud cases?
Some notable examples of Ticketmaster fraud over the years include:
- In 2018, Ticketmaster had to offer refunds after a large credit card data breach exposed customer information to fraudsters.
- In 2019, a third-party resale site was found reselling over 200,000 stolen Ticketmaster tickets acquired through compromised accounts.
- During high demand events like the Super Bowl or Olympics, large Ticketmaster scams emerge with fake ticket offers.
- International fraud rings have targeted Ticketmaster sites in the UK, Canada and Australia previously.
- In the early 2000s, Ticketmaster faced multiple lawsuits over facilitating scalping practices on its platform.
While Ticketmaster has increased anti-fraud investments, scammers continue to adapt techniques like phishing sites, fake ads and bots to exploit consumers during peak seasons. Staying vigilant for common warning signs of Ticketmaster scams remains vital.
What are the consequences for Ticketmaster fraud?
Committing fraud through Ticketmaster breaches both their terms of use and the law. Consequences can include:
- Account suspension or blacklisting on Ticketmaster for scamming buyers.
- Civil lawsuits from Ticketmaster for damages like chargeback fees.
- Class action lawsuits if fraud impacts large groups of customers.
- Fines or asset seizure if profits were made selling stolen/fake tickets.
- Criminal charges for offenses like wire fraud or identity theft.
- Jail time – maximum sentences vary but can be 20 years plus for major fraud.
In one 2020 case, two Ticketmaster scammers faced up to 25 years in prison for a Champions League final ticket scam earning over $240,000 from unsuspecting buyers.
Conclusion
In summary, fraud remains an ongoing issue that customers need to be aware of when purchasing tickets through Ticketmaster or other major resale platforms. Only buy tickets through official sources, exercise caution with third-party sellers, and be wary of deals that seem too good to be true. If you do become the victim of a Ticketmaster scam, act swiftly to halt payments, notify relevant authorities and contact Ticketmaster support who may be able to assist further under their buyer guarantee policies.
