FTC Sues Ticket Reseller for Violating Purchase Limits on Taylor Swift and Bruce Springsteen Concerts

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has initiated legal action against Maryland-based ticket broker Key Investment Group, accusing the company of employing deceptive methods to surpass ticket purchase limits for high-demand events, including Taylor Swift's Eras Tour and Bruce Springsteen concerts. The lawsuit, filed in federal court in Maryland, alleges that between November 2022 and December 2023, Key Investment Group used thousands of fictitious Ticketmaster accounts and other tactics to acquire over 379,000 tickets, spending nearly $57 million and reselling them for approximately $64 million.

In one instance, the company allegedly used 49 different accounts to purchase 273 tickets for a single Taylor Swift concert, significantly exceeding the six-ticket limit per person.

FTC Chairman Andrew N. Ferguson stated, "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."

Key Investment Group, operating under names such as Epic Seats and Totally Tix, denies wrongdoing and contends that the FTC is misapplying the Better Online Ticket Sales Act. The company argues that it uses human buyers, not bots, and warns that the lawsuit could harm the secondary ticket market.

This legal action is part of a broader initiative by the Trump administration to combat exploitative ticket reselling practices.