Schumer: Congress Needs To Pull Plug On Ticket Bots Used To Scarf-up Popular Concerts Tickets Before True Fans Have A Chance To Even Turn On Their Computers

Statement

U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer today urged his colleagues in Congress to pass the Better On-line Ticket Sales Act of 2014, or the BOTS Act, in order to increase fairness for consumers in the ticket-purchasing industry. Schumer said that with Live Nation selected as the new promoter of the Lakeside Amphitheater in Onondaga County, its new venue will be the site of many popular concerts and events in the Central NY region. However, this could also make it a prime target for cyber-scalpers using bots to buy up thousands of popular concert tickets and resell them at much higher prices. Schumer said there have been recent incidents involving cyber-scalpers using computer programs, called "bots," to purchase concert tickets once they go on sale and resell them to the highest bidder in New York State, including the Paul McCartney concert in Buffalo. Schumer said this practice is unfair to true fans and, therefore, pushed his colleagues to pass his legislation, which would crack down on the use of bots and help fix the broken system of ticket purchasing.

"Cyber-scalpers and other bad actors are using technology, like "bots' that instantaneously snatch up piles of concert tickets and then sell them on other sites at outrageous prices -- they are taking advantage of real fans and we need to put a stop to it. These bots have gotten completely out of control and are a threat to the entire live music industry -- including venues like Syracuse's Lakeside Amphitheater. That is why I am pushing my colleagues to pass legislation that would crack down on online hackers and scalpers that use bots to purchase thousands of tickets in a matter of micro-seconds, and then sell them at overly inflated and ridiculous prices to consumers. By eliminating bots and slapping hackers with a hefty fine, we can better ensure those who want to attend shows like promoted by Live Nation in Central New York in the future will not have to pay outrageous, unfair prices," said Schumer.

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