Ticket scalping refers to the practice of purchasing event tickets, such as those for concerts, sports games, or theater shows, and reselling them at inflated prices. This resale typically happens on third-party platforms or even in person near venues.
For many fans, scalping can lead to frustration as tickets become difficult to obtain at fair prices. Meanwhile, scalpers aim to profit from high demand.
In today’s digital age, ticket scalping has grown, largely due to the rise of online sales and the ease with which scalpers can purchase and resell tickets.
This blog will explore what ticket scalping means, how it works, and what tools like Multilogin can do to help businesses, platforms, and fans combat scalping activities.
How Does Ticket Scalping Work?
Scalpers take advantage of the demand for tickets to high-profile events. This process generally involves purchasing tickets at face value and reselling them at a higher price to make a profit. Here’s how it typically unfolds:
- Purchasing Tickets: Scalpers rush to buy as many tickets as possible as soon as they go on sale. Some use manual methods, but many rely on bots—automated programs that can purchase multiple tickets in seconds—leaving genuine buyers with little chance.
- Reselling at a Higher Price: After purchasing the tickets, scalpers list them for sale on third-party sites or marketplace platforms. With limited tickets available for popular events, buyers are forced to pay inflated prices just to attend.
- The Role of Bots in Scalping: Bots play a significant role in modern ticket scalping. These programs allow scalpers to purchase bulk tickets in a short time, giving them an edge over regular buyers. They can bypass captchas, handle rapid purchases, and avoid the limitations that websites place on human users. This leaves many fans without access to tickets at face value.
The Digital Rise of Ticket Scalping
The shift to online ticket sales has made ticket scalping more efficient. With traditional ticket sales, scalping was often limited to selling tickets outside venues. Now, scalpers can operate globally through online platforms, reaching more buyers while staying anonymous.
Online marketplaces such as StubHub, Vivid Seats, and SeatGeek make it easy to resell tickets. While these platforms are convenient for people who can no longer attend an event and need to resell their tickets, they also enable scalpers to list large numbers of tickets at drastically marked-up prices.
The Impact of Ticket Scalping
Ticket scalping doesn’t just affect buyers—its impact ripples across several areas:
- Fans: When scalpers dominate ticket sales, fans are left paying far above face value or missing out on tickets altogether. This can be particularly frustrating for loyal fans who want to attend but can’t afford the inflated prices.
- Artists and Event Organizers: The connection between artists and their fans can suffer when tickets are resold at inflated prices. Moreover, organizers may face backlash when tickets sell out quickly and are resold for much more than originally intended.
- Regulators: Governments in various regions are starting to implement anti-scalping laws. Regulations such as banning the use of bots to purchase tickets are being enacted to protect consumers.
Is Ticket Scalping Legal?
The legality of ticket scalping varies depending on the region. In some places, reselling tickets at any price is permitted, while other regions impose strict limits or outright bans. For example, the U.S. has implemented the Better Online Ticket Sales (BOTS) Act, which prohibits using bots to purchase tickets. Similarly, the UK has enacted the Digital Economy Act 2017, which also combats automated ticket-buying practices.
While reselling tickets for profit is legal in some areas, the use of bots or engaging in large-scale scalping activities can lead to legal consequences.
Why You Should Think Twice Before Buying Scalped Tickets
There are several risks associated with buying scalped tickets:
- Scams: Some scalpers sell counterfeit or duplicate tickets, leaving buyers unable to enter the event. Purchasing tickets through unofficial channels can put you at risk of falling victim to scams.
- Account Suspensions: Many ticketing platforms explicitly forbid buying and reselling tickets in bulk. If caught engaging in these activities, scalpers may lose their accounts, resulting in loss of access to further tickets.
- Ethical Concerns: Scalping exploits the demand for tickets, leaving genuine fans struggling to afford them. Purchasing from scalpers can perpetuate this system.
Alternatives to Buying Scalped Tickets
Instead of turning to scalpers, consider these alternatives:
- Buy Directly from the Source: Always try to purchase tickets from official websites or authorized resellers. Event organizers often release additional tickets closer to the event date.
- Fan-to-Fan Resale Platforms: Some platforms allow fans to resell their tickets at face value. This can provide a safer and more ethical way to purchase second-hand tickets.
- Sign Up for Pre-Sales: Many events offer pre-sales to certain groups, such as fan clubs or credit card holders. Signing up for these opportunities can increase your chances of securing tickets at face value.
How Multilogin Can Help With Ticket Scalping
Ticket scalping often involves multiple accounts and bots, both of which are used to bypass limits on ticket purchases. Multilogin offers solutions for businesses and event organizers to prevent scalping and bot activity on their platforms.
Here’s how Multilogin can assist in the fight against ticket scalping:
- Bot Detection: With advanced fingerprinting detection, Multilogin can identify suspicious behavior that resembles automated ticket purchasing bots. This helps platforms block or prevent bulk buying from scalpers.
- Account Management: Scalpers often create multiple accounts to purchase tickets. Multilogin’s technology can track multiple browser profiles and help detect patterns that signal scalping activities, allowing event organizers to protect their customers.
- Secure Browser Profiles: With Multilogin, businesses can ensure that the digital fingerprints of buyers are authentic and not manipulated. This reduces the chance of fraudulent accounts being created for bulk ticket purchasing.
