FTC Sues Scalpers Behind Taylor Swift and Springsteen Tickets

The Trump administration is taking aim at ticket scalpers. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has filed a lawsuit against Key Investment Group LLC and its affiliates. The Maryland-based company allegedly used illegal methods to buy and resell thousands of tickets for major concerts, including Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour and Bruce Springsteen’s shows. Read the action here.

According to the FTC, the group violated the Better Online Ticket Sales (BOTS) Act. They reportedly used bots and fake accounts to bypass ticket limits on platforms like Ticketmaster. Between November 2022 and December 2023, they bought nearly 380,000 tickets, spending around $57 million. These were then resold for $64 million, generating over $7 million in profit. One example cited was a Taylor Swift concert in March 2023. The scalpers used 49 accounts to buy 273 tickets—well above the six-ticket limit. They earned $119,000 from reselling those tickets. Across 38 Swift concerts, they made over $1.2 million in profit. Bruce Springsteen’s concert at MetLife Stadium also saw abuse. The group used 277 accounts to buy 1,530 tickets, exceeding the four-ticket limit. They made nearly $21,000 from resales.

FTC Chairman Andrew Ferguson linked the lawsuit to President Trump’s March Executive Order. He emphasized the administration’s commitment to protecting fans from unfair pricing and deceptive practices –

President Trump made it clear in his March Executive Order that unscrupulous middlemen who harm fans and jack up prices through anticompetitive methods will hear from us. Today’s action puts brokers on notice that the Trump-Vance FTC will police operations that unlawfully circumvent ticket sellers’ purchase limits, ensuring that consumers have an opportunity to buy tickets at fair prices.

The FTC’s lawsuit sends a strong message: ticket brokers who manipulate sales systems will face legal action. Fans should have fair access to live events. This move marks real progress toward that goal. Ticket prices have surged in recent years. Hopefully, this crackdown leads to a more affordable and transparent experience for concertgoers. For the latest updates in music, stay connected with EDMTunes.