World · North America · 2 hrs ago
US Sues Ticket Broker Over Alleged Illegal Resales of 18.5 Million Tickets
The Justice Department has sued San Diego-based REPS & Co, accusing the entertainment company of illegally buying tickets and reselling them for profit.
Prosecutors say the company used bots and other methods to get around purchase limits for at least 83,000 events.
The lawsuit alleges REPS spent more than $1.3 billion on 18.5 million tickets to concerts, shows and sporting events, then made at least $120.8 million in profit reselling them.
For one Beyoncé Renaissance tour concert in California, the company allegedly used at least 1,300 accounts to buy 7,624 tickets, despite a limit of four to eight per purchase.
Prosecutors say the resale of those tickets brought in about $833,323, illustrating how large-scale ticket resales can drive up costs for eventgoers.
The case is part of enforcement of the BOTS Act, which bans using technology to evade ticket limits, and the Justice Department says it will continue working with the FTC to enforce the law.
The U.S. Department of Justice and Federal Trade Commission sued San Diego-based ticket resale firm REPS & Co and several executives over alleged illegal ticket resales.
The agencies allege the company used thousands of accounts to evade ticket-purchase limits and resold tickets at inflated prices.
The complaint says REPS bought tickets to more than 83,000 events and made more than $120 million in profit.
The reported ticket total differs between the articles: one says more than 18.6 million, while the other says 18.5 million.
The lawsuit cites purchases for concerts by Beyoncé and Pitbull as examples.
- Who
- The Department of Justice and Federal Trade Commission sued REPS & Co and several of its executives.
- What
- They allege the company illegally bypassed ticket-purchase limits and resold tickets for profit.
- When
- The lawsuit was filed Thursday; the articles were published on Oct. 16, 2026.
- Where
- The company is based in San Diego. The alleged ticket purchases involved events in multiple locations.
- Why
- The agencies allege REPS used multiple accounts and other methods to obtain tickets beyond purchase limits and resell them at inflated prices.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
REPS allegedly used about 1,300 accounts to buy 7,624 tickets to a Beyoncé Renaissance tour concert.
REPS allegedly used at least 700 accounts to buy 5,430 tickets to a Pitbull concert in Syracuse, New York.
The Justice Department and FTC filed their lawsuit against REPS & Co and several executives.
- Alleged ticket total
- 18.5 million according to Rolling Stone; more than 18.6 million according to Hollywood Reporter
- Events
- More than 83,000 according to Rolling Stone; about 83,500 according to Hollywood Reporter
- Alleged profits
- More than $120 million; at least $120.8 million according to Rolling Stone
- Beyoncé concert tickets
- 7,624 tickets allegedly acquired through about 1,300 accounts
- Pitbull concert tickets
- 5,430 tickets allegedly acquired through at least 700 accounts
3 sources
What people are saying
REPS’ entire business model is focused on trying to game the ticket-purchasing system in order to obtain as many tickets as possible to resell at inflated prices to consumers.
The Justice Department is committed to holding accountable individuals and businesses that drive up the cost of event tickets by illegally exceeding ticket purchase limits and reselling those unlawfully obtained tickets with exorbitant markups