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According to a recent report from The Guardian, more than 70% of all Americans who bought a ticket to a live event in the last year did so through Ticketmaster.
With huge global tours like Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour and major sporting events drawing record demand, Ticketmaster has become the dominant force in online ticketing - and a prime target for scammers.
So, is Ticketmaster legit? Yes; it’s a well-established, fully legitimate platform. But can you still be scammed while using it? Unfortunately, yes it’s possible.
This guide explains how Ticketmaster attracts scammers, the most common scams to watch for, and the steps you can take to keep your tickets and personal information safe.
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What is Ticketmaster?
Ticketmaster was founded in 1976 as a company focused on ticketing hardware and software. It grew quickly by partnering with large venues, and by the early 90s it was already valued in the hundreds of millions.
Through the 2000s, the company expanded further by acquiring competitors and related businesses before merging with Live Nation in 2009. That merger created Live Nation Entertainment — the largest ticketing and live events company in the world.
Ticketmaster is absolutely legitimate, but its size and brand recognition make it a valuable tool for scammers, who impersonate Ticketmaster or create convincing lookalike sites to mislead customers. Scams have become so common that Ticketmaster maintains its own guidance on the most frequent threats facing users.
While Ticketmaster is legitimate, the problem is that scammers don’t need to hack the platform itself: they only need to trick customers into thinking they’re interacting with the real Ticketmaster. This might be through phishing emails, copycat websites, spoofed customer service numbers, or fake “transfer” requests on resale platforms.
Because buying tickets is usually time-sensitive and emotionally charged, cyber criminals rely on people acting quickly rather than carefully. That’s why staying alert, and using tools that automatically block risky websites or suspicious links, is one of the most reliable ways to stay safe.
Here’s what to watch out for.
Common Ticketmaster scams
1. Fake Ticketmaster websites
Fake websites remain one of the biggest risks for ticket buyers. While early scam sites were easy to spot with poor spelling or sloppy designs, today’s versions can look almost identical to the real Ticketmaster site.
Some fake sites use carefully crafted branding and urgent messages — such as limited-time discounts or “final chance” offers — to push buyers into entering payment details. Even the domain may look correct, with subtle misspellings or extra characters that are easily missed. The website designs can also look very convincing to the untrained eye, but specialist tools like F-Secure Total can often detect fake sites more reliably.
How to spot fake Ticketmaster websites
Look for suspicious domains, unusual URLs, or recently created websites. If you aren’t sure, use a link checker tool to check for scam sites.
Be wary of discounts or offers that seem unusually generous: if it looks too good to be true, then it probably is.
Don’t trust the padlock icon alone — it doesn’t guarantee legitimacy.
Use a trusted security tool such as F-Secure Total to block phishing sites across all devices.
2. Gift card scams
Gift card scams often originate on social media marketplaces or third-party resale websites, but scammers sometimes impersonate Ticketmaster directly, claiming they need gift card payment to “secure” a booking or resolve an issue. Gift cards are attractive to scammers because they’re fast, anonymous, and hard to trace.
A simple rule applies here: no legitimate company will ever request payment via gift card.
How to avoid gift card scams
Never pay for tickets with gift cards — Ticketmaster will never ask for this.
Only purchase resale tickets through trusted official channels.
Be cautious about private sellers using PayPal, Venmo or similar apps — legitimate businesses don’t request payment this way.
Report any gift card payment requests immediately.
Learn more about gift card scams.
3. Ticketmaster hacks
If a cyber criminal gains access to your Ticketmaster account — often through leaked passwords or compromised email accounts — they can quickly take over your tickets or payment details.
Once inside, they may:
Transfer tickets to another account without you noticing.
Use your stored card information to bulk-purchase tickets.
Lock you out by changing your password.
Because these actions often appear legitimate, recovering stolen tickets can be very difficult.
How to avoid a Ticketmaster hack
Use a strong, unique password generated with a secure password tool.
Update your password regularly, ideally at least once a year.
If you receive any alerts about data breaches or suspicious activity, update all linked passwords immediately.
Enable additional security measures on your email account, as it often acts as the gateway to all platform logins.
Best practices for avoiding Ticketmaster scams
Even when buying directly from the official Ticketmaster site, it’s important to stay cautious.
Here are the key steps to protect yourself:
Access Ticketmaster directly — never click links in unsolicited emails.
Use the official app or website for all purchases and account changes.
Keep your password strong and up to date.
Be alert to red flags such as urgent payment demands or sellers pushing you to private messaging apps.
Verify the website before entering your card details, especially on resale pages.
Use security software like F-Secure Total to block fake websites and phishing links.
It’s also worth reviewing the security of any accounts linked to Ticketmaster, such as your email account or digital wallet. These often hold recovery options or stored payment details that scammers can exploit if the account has been compromised. Turning on two-factor authentication (2FA) wherever possible adds an additional safeguard that makes unauthorized access far more difficult.
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