National Consumers League Applauds FTC Crackdown on Ticket Brokers, Calls for Swift Passage of TICKET Act
Media Contact: Lisa McDonald, Vice President of Communications, 202-207-2829
Washington, DC – The National Consumers League (NCL) today praised the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) for bringing an enforcement action against Key Investment Group and its affiliates for violations of the Better Online Ticket Sales Act of 2016 (BOTS Act). The companies allegedly used bots and other illegal tactics to evade ticket purchase limits, scooping up hundreds of thousands of tickets and reselling them—including on Ticketmaster’s own resale platform and often at inflated prices—to unsuspecting fans.
This is only the second time in nearly a decade that the FTC has enforced the BOTS Act.
John Breyault, NCL Vice President of Public Policy, Telecommunications, and Fraud, issued the following statement:
“This action sends a clear message: the FTC is willing to take on ticket brokers who cheat the system and fans alike. But two enforcement cases in nearly ten years are not enough. Consumers deserve more than sporadic crackdowns—they deserve lasting protections.
That’s why Congress must act. The bipartisan TICKET Act would outlaw deceptive ticketing practices, require all-in pricing, and ensure real accountability for bad actors. Fans shouldn’t need a law degree to buy a concert ticket. Passing the TICKET Act would bring the fairness and transparency consumers have been promised for years.”
NCL has long advocated for stronger consumer safeguards in the live event marketplace, helping lay the groundwork for passage of the original BOTS Act. Today’s action, the group emphasized, underscores the urgency of finishing the job by enacting comprehensive reform through the TICKET Act.
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About the National Consumers League (NCL)
The National Consumers League, founded in 1899, is America’s pioneer consumer organization. Our mission is to protect and promote social and economic justice for consumers and workers in the United States and abroad. For more information, visit www.nclnet.org.
