Maryland — The Federal Trade Commission filed a lawsuit Monday against Maryland-based Key Investment Group and its affiliates, accusing them of using illegal methods to bypass ticket purchasing limits for high-demand events including Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour.
Regulators say the operation snapped up at least 379,776 tickets in a little over a year, costing nearly $57 million and reselling some for about $64 million. According to the FTC, Key Investment Group and its executives used thousands of fake or third-party accounts, multiple credit card numbers, proxy IP addresses and SIM boxes to skirt Ticketmaster’s security checks. For one Taylor Swift concert, the group allegedly used 49 accounts to buy 273 tickets, far above the six-ticket limit per event.
FTC Chair Andrew N. Ferguson said the Trump-Vance administration is sending a message to brokers who manipulate ticket systems and drive-up prices for fans. The lawsuit, filed in federal court in Maryland after a unanimous commission vote, alleges violations of the FTC Act and the Better Online Ticket Sales Act, which prohibits bypassing technological limits on ticket sales. The case is now before the court. You can follow this story on the Federal Trade Commission’s official website.
