Cybercriminals Persistently Swipe Tickets from User's Ticketmaster Digital Wallets
Cybercriminals Persistently Swipe Tickets from User's Ticketmaster Digital Wallets
If you've neglected to update your Ticketmaster account's password recently, you might want to reconsider. The ticketing company is still grappling with the aftermath of a data breach from several months ago, impacting over 500 million customers. It's the customers who are bearing the brunt of this incident.
As per a report published yesterday by Business Insider, various customers have discovered that unauthorized individuals have infiltrated their Ticketmaster accounts, swiping their tickets in the process.
In September, Vashti-Jasmine McKenzie noticed an event had inexplicably disappeared from her Google Calendar. This was a reminder for an Usher concert in Dallas scheduled for October 5, which was synced with her Ticketmaster account.
McKenzie was horrified when she opened her email to find that the night prior, a stranger had accessed her account, stolen her two tickets worth $550, and moved them out of her account. Fortunately, McKenzie managed to retrieve her tickets from Ticketmaster's customer support. However, not everyone has been as fortunate: Business Insider identified another individual who lost their tickets, only to have them returned by Ticketmaster, only to find that the tickets had been swiped when they arrived at the concert. Reddit, too, features numerous complaints from users who say they've experienced something similar.
Ticket scalping is currently a lucrative business, and it's hardly surprising that Ticketmaster accounts are highly sought after. It's unclear as to how exactly these customer accounts are being breached - following the breach, security experts stated that it didn't appear passwords were compromised. One would think any tech company today would utilize hashing instead of storing passwords in plain text.
Regardless, hackers seem to have had a field day with Ticketmaster accounts, adding to the company's woes in recent years.
Live Nation, Ticketmaster's parent company, found itself in legal trouble in May when it was sued by the Department of Justice for allegations of antitrust. The agency claimed that Ticketmaster is behaving in an anti-competitive manner by forcing performers to use Ticketmaster at venues operated by Live Nation. Besides handling ticketing through Ticketmaster, Live Nation handles promotions for most major concert venues in the U.S., and operates hundreds of venues on its own. Essentially, it offers an all-inclusive package.
Live Nation and Ticketmaster have not enjoyed a favorable relationship with concertgoers for years due to their treatment of ticket sales, including employing virtual lines and "dynamic pricing" to inflate the prices of in-demand tickets. The situation has become so bad that some have shied away from attending concerts altogether if it means dealing with Ticketmaster - which is, unfortunately, the norm.
The main criticism against these companies is that they control nearly 70% of ticketing for major concert venues in the U.S., leading to no incentive to improve. They've used their control to exploit venues and artists, and a Senate Judiciary Committee investigation concluded in 2023 that Ticketmaster's exclusive contracts create significant barriers for competitors. Licenses, permits, and various regulatory barriers advantage companies like Live Nation and Ticketmaster that can handle the associated costs. According to an article published in NPR at the time:
Senator Klobuchar identified three main issues with Ticketmaster during the hearing and her interview: It controls more than 70% of the market for ticketing and live events, controls much of the promotion for these events, and either owns or has years-long exclusive contracts with many large venues.
Live Nation was permitted to acquire Ticketmaster in 2010 after signing a consent decree stipulating that it would not retaliate against venues choosing other ticketing providers. However, Live Nation controls a significant portion of major venues, requiring the use of Ticketmaster. Live Nation maintains that it's operating in a free market, citing competitors like AXS and SeatGeek, and claiming that its scale has enabled it to offer better technology and lower prices to consumers. Its market share has decreased slightly since 2010, and its prices are comparable to those of other ticket marketplaces, it claims.
However, the future is uncertain, especially under a potential Trump administration. In the meantime, if you must use Ticketmaster, we recommend updating your password, enabling two-factor authentication, and turning on account alerts for any attempted ticket transfers.
In light of the ongoing security concerns, it's crucial for Ticketmaster users to implement additional security measures. As suggested by tech experts, updating your password and enabling two-factor authentication can significantly strengthen your account's protection against potential breaches in the future.
As the antitrust lawsuit against Live Nation and Ticketmaster continues, consumers are encouraged to stay vigilant and take advantage of available security features to safeguard their ticket purchases. The future of the ticketing market remains uncertain, but taking proactive measures to protect your account can help mitigate potential risks.