Two individuals charged in a ticket fraud scheme that stole over 900 digital tickets, including Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour, reselling them for massive profits.
Taylor Swift Fans Scammed as Hackers Cash in on Eras Tour Tickets
While Taylor Swift’s record-breaking Eras Tour grossed over $2 billion, some fans ended up paying a steep price—falling victim to a multi-million dollar ticket fraud scheme.
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced the arrest of two individuals accused of stealing and reselling over 900 digital tickets, mostly for Swift’s highly sought-after concerts, amassing over $600,000 in illegal profits.
“These defendants tried to use the popularity of Taylor Swift’s concert tour and other high-profile events to profit at the expense of others,” DA Katz stated.
“They allegedly exploited a loophole through an offshore ticket vendor to steal tickets to the biggest concert tour of the last decade and then resold those seats for an extraordinary profit of more than $600,000.”
How the Ticket Fraud Scheme Worked
The investigation revealed that two individuals working for a StubHub third-party contractor in Kingston, Jamaica, stole ticket URLs and sent them to two co-conspirators in Queens, New York.
- The co-conspirators allegedly downloaded the stolen tickets and resold them on StubHub, pocketing hundreds of thousands in illegal profits.
- The operation didn’t just target Swift’s concerts—it extended to other major events, including:
- Adele and Ed Sheeran concerts
- NBA games
- US Open Tennis Championships
Who Was Arrested?
Two individuals, Tyrone Rose and Shamara P. Simmons of Queens, were charged with:
- Second-degree grand larceny
- First-degree computer tampering
- Fourth-degree conspiracy
- Fourth-degree computer tampering
Both suspects are scheduled to return to court on Friday and face three to 15 years in prison if convicted.
Ongoing Investigation: More Arrests Possible
Authorities are still investigating the extent of the operation, with DA Katz’s office working to identify additional co-conspirators.
As law enforcement cracks down on fraudulent ticket sales, fans are being urged to exercise caution when purchasing tickets from resellers—especially for high-demand events like Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour.
With Swift’s global dominance in music, it seems even scammers couldn’t resist cashing in on the hype—but this time, justice is catching up with them.
Tags: Taylor Swift, Eras Tour Scam, Ticket Fraud, StubHub, Queens DA, Melinda Katz, Ticket Resale Scam, Concert Ticket Fraud, Taylor Swift News, NBA Ticket Scam, US Open Ticket Fraud