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The Federal Trade Commission has taken legal action against a ticket resale company, accusing it of deceptive tactics to buy up large numbers of tickets and sell them at inflated prices for major events like Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour

The complaint, reviewed by Variety, targets Key Investment Group and its subsidiaries, Epic Seats and Totally Tix LLC. According to the FTC, these businesses broke the Better Online Ticket Sales (BOTS) Act, profiting millions by overcharging fans on the resale market. Named in the lawsuit are CEO Yair D. Rozmaryn, CFO Elan N. Rozmaryn, and CSO Taylor Kurth. The FTC alleges the company bypassed security measures by creating thousands of Ticketmaster accounts, hiding their activity with fake IP addresses, and using numerous credit cards—both virtual and physical. The issue of ticket reselling has sparked heated debates in recent years. While some defend the secondary market for offering flexibility, others criticize it for driving up prices and making live events less accessible to average fans. Records show the company bought over 379,000 tickets from Ticketmaster in a single year, spending $57 million and reselling them for $64 million. This included 2,280 tickets for 38 Taylor Swift concerts, purchased for nearly $745,000 and resold for almost $2 million—a profit of more than $1.2 million. In one example, the company allegedly used 49 accounts to grab 273 tickets for a Swift concert in March 2023, making $119,000. Similar tactics were reportedly used for a Bruce Springsteen show in September 2023, where 277 accounts secured 1,530 tickets, generating $20,900. FTC Chairman Andrew N. Ferguson stated, "President Trump’s executive order made it clear that we will crack down on those exploiting fans with unfair pricing. This lawsuit shows our dedication to enforcing laws that stop ticket brokers from skirting purchase limits, ensuring fair access for consumers." Key Investment Group has not responded to the lawsuit. Earlier this year, the company sued the FTC, arguing it complied with the BOTS Act and warning that regulatory interference could harm the secondary ticket market. This case underscores the ongoing conflict between ticket resellers and regulators, with no simple solution in sight. As demand for live events remains high, the discussion around fair pricing and access is expected to continue.

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Category:SHOW BIZ NEWS

MSG team 2025-08-19