FTC Unleashes Legal Fury on Ticket Reseller for Alleged Mass Ticket Grabs

In a powerful move to protect consumers from predatory ticketing practices, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has launched a significant lawsuit against Event Tickets Center (also operating as Super Star Tickets). The FTC alleges that the prominent ticket reseller engaged in systematic, illegal activities to circumvent ticket purchase limits, effectively cornering the market on highly coveted event tickets and reselling them at exorbitant prices, leaving genuine fans out in the cold.

According to the FTC's complaint, Event Tickets Center employed a sophisticated and deceptive arsenal of tactics.

This included the use of automated bots, submitting hundreds of fake identities, deploying numerous credit cards, and cycling through a multitude of IP addresses. These elaborate schemes were designed with one primary goal: to bypass the strict ticket limits set by venues and primary ticket sellers for popular concerts, sporting events, and theatrical performances.

By doing so, the reseller allegedly acquired vast quantities of tickets in mere moments, often before ordinary consumers even had a chance.

The impact of these alleged actions is severe. When Event Tickets Center hoarded these tickets, they effectively removed them from the primary market, artificially inflating demand and driving up prices on the secondary market.

Fans, desperate to see their favorite artists or teams, were then forced to pay significantly higher markups, often unaware that the tickets they were buying were acquired through illicit means. This practice not only hurts consumers financially but also undermines the spirit of fair access to live entertainment.

Central to the FTC's case is the Better Online Ticket Sales (BOTS) Act of 2016.

This crucial piece of legislation was specifically enacted to prohibit the use of bots and other technological means to bypass ticket purchase limits, and to ban the resale of tickets acquired through such methods. The FTC asserts that Event Tickets Center’s business model directly violated the BOTS Act, highlighting the agency's commitment to enforcing this law to safeguard the integrity of the ticketing ecosystem.

The lawsuit seeks to put an immediate stop to these alleged illegal practices and to impose significant civil penalties against Event Tickets Center and its operators.

The FTC emphasizes that its action serves as a strong warning to other resellers who might consider similar illicit tactics, reinforcing the message that consumer protection in the online ticketing space remains a top priority. This legal battle underscores the ongoing challenges in ensuring fair and equitable access to live events for everyone.

Ultimately, this case is about more than just tickets; it's about fairness, transparency, and the right of every fan to enjoy live experiences without falling victim to manipulative schemes.

The FTC's robust enforcement action against Event Tickets Center represents a vital step towards restoring balance and preventing future abuses in the dynamic and often contentious world of online ticket sales.