Hacking group says it stole personal info of 550M Ticketmaster customers

[KARAH RUCKER]

A hacking group says it has stolen the personal data of more than 500 million Ticketmaster customers around the world. The group, known as ShinyHunters, said in an online forum the stolen data includes the names, addresses, phone numbers, and partial credit card details. They’re offering to sell that data for $500,000.

Ticketmaster has not yet confirmed the security breach, but Australia’s Department of Home Affairs says it is working with the company in the wake of this breach. A U.S. Embassy spokesperson in Australia told an international news outlet the FBI has offered assistance to Australian authorities.

The authenticity of the data being sold by ShinyHunters has not yet been verified. But if verified, the hack could be the most significant breach ever in terms of numbers and the extent of the data stolen, according to the BBC.

This is just the latest issue for Ticketmaster and its parent company LiveNation. Just last week, the U.S. Justice Department filed an antitrust lawsuit against the ticketing giant. It comes after allegations the company has abused its position as a concert promoter, ticket seller, and venue owner to suppress competition, leading to reduced consumer choice and higher ticket prices.

The lawsuit is also a response to public outcry, notably after Ticketmaster’s mishandling of ticket sales for Taylor Swift’s Eras tour in 2022, which led to significant backlash from fans and politicians.

This is also not the first time Ticketmaster has been hit with security issues. In 2020, the company admitted it hacked into one of its competitors and agreed to pay a $10 million fine.