Ticketing News: FTC Files Lawsuit Against Ticket Scalpers Over Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour

🚨 The FTC vs. Ticket Scalpers: Why This Case Could Change Everything

The FTC’s lawsuit against a Maryland-based ticket broker isn’t just another headline—it’s a wake-up call that regulators are finally taking action against the predatory practices that have kept real fans locked out of live shows. 

What Happened
The FTC says Key Investment Group (aka Epic Seats, TotalTickets.com, Totally Tix) used:
*  Thousands of fake accounts
*  Spoofed IP addresses + SIM tech to dodge verification
*  Virtual credit cards to bypass ticket limits

In just over a year, they allegedly bought 379,776 tickets (including 2,280 Eras Tour seats) worth $57M and resold them for $64M — pocketing nearly $7M in profit while fans were stuck staring at queues with thousands ahead of them.

Why It Matters
This is one of the first times the Better Online Ticket Sales (BOTS) Act is being enforced since it passed in 2016. Regulators are finally recognizing what fans, artists, and venues have been shouting for years: the system is broken. Bots and scalpers tilt the playing field, driving up prices and locking out the very people live music is meant for. 

The Alternative Exists — And It’s Thriving
Back in 2009, the CashorTrade community launched the Face Value Ticket Movement ✊. What started as a grassroots idea has exploded into a global fan-powered network.

*  In the past 12 months alone, over half million tickets have exchanged hands for face value on CashorTrade.
*  No bots. No scalpers. No markups. Just fans helping fans.
*  Artists, festivals, and venues are beginning to partner with us because they know fair ticketing strengthens the entire live event experience.

This community proves that a better system isn’t just possible—it’s already here. 

Looking Ahead
Lawsuits like this are a step forward, but real change will take more:
🤝 Fans, artists, and venues working together
🔒 Stronger enforcement of fair ticketing rules
🌟 Platforms that put people over profit

The future of ticketing must be transparent, fair, and community-driven. That’s what we’ve been building at CashorTrade for over a decade—and it’s only the beginning.

Fans deserve better. Let’s make sure this moment leads to real, lasting change. ✨