A group of cybercriminals has been caught stealing and reselling over 900 digital tickets for Taylor Swift concerts and other high-demand events. This scheme, which took place on StubHub, was uncovered by prosecutors in New York.
According to Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz, the operation involved workers in Jamaica employed by a company that provided services to the online ticket platform. These individuals stole ticket URLs from StubHub and sent them to accomplices in New York. The New Yorkers then sold these tickets at inflated prices on the same platform.
The operation lasted for about a year, from June 2022 to July 2023, and generated more than $600,000 in profits. Most of the stolen tickets were for Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour, but the crew also targeted tickets for concerts by Adele and Ed Sheeran, as well as for NBA games and the U.S. Open Tennis Championships.
Prosecutors are still investigating the full extent of the scam and looking into other possible co-conspirators. Two suspects, Tyrone Rose, 20, and Shamara Simmons, 31, were arrested last Thursday. Rose, who was in Jamaica, redirected the stolen tickets to Simmons and another accomplice in Queens. He was caught while visiting New York and has been ordered to surrender his passport. Both Rose and Simmons pleaded not guilty and were released on bail, awaiting their next court appearance.
StubHub has confirmed that it discovered this criminal activity and reported it to law enforcement and its customer service vendor. The company has since ended its relationship with that vendor and has enhanced its security measures. StubHub has also assured customers that all affected ticket orders have been replaced or refunded.
This incident highlights ongoing concerns about ticket fraud and the need for tighter security in online marketplaces.