Ethical Hacking News
Two alleged cyber scalpers have been arrested over a $635,000 Taylor Swift ticket heist, with one suspect facing up to 12 years in prison. The pair are accused of stealing more than 900 tickets and selling them on StubHub for huge profit.
Tyrone Rose and Shamara Simmons were arrested for allegedly stealing over 900 tickets from high-profile events between June 2022 and July 2023, netting them $635,000.The pair exploited a loophole in StubHub's network to find unique ticket URLs and sell them on the platform for three-figure profit.The operation suggests that there were at least two people working together in each location.StubHub has been targeted by scams before, including breaches of accounts and ticket resale schemes.Rose and Simmons face prison sentences ranging from 3 to 15 years if found guilty.
The world of ticketing has long been a playground for scammers, with countless stories of scalpers selling out to the highest bidder. However, recent events have taken this nefarious activity to new heights, with a pair of alleged cyber scalpers being cuffed over a $635,000 Taylor Swift ticket heist that left fans reeling.
According to Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz, Tyrone Rose, 20, and Shamara Simmons, 31, were arrested on Thursday for their roles in stealing more than 900 tickets for high-profile events between June 2022 and July 2023. The alleged operation allegedly exploited a loophole in an offshore ticketing system to net the pair $635,000.
While it may seem like a small price compared to the millions that these scalpers often rake in, this particular heist takes on new significance given the popularity of Taylor Swift's concert tour and other high-profile events. The DA claims that Rose and Simmons used their access to StubHub's network to "find a backdoor" into the system used to assign tickets their unique URLs.
This alleged exploit allowed them to redirect emails containing these ticket URLs to a crew in Queens, who would then sell the seats on StubHub for three-figure profit. The pair's modus operandi suggests that they were not acting alone, with Katz stating that there were at least two people working in each location - Kingston and Queens.
The operation is a stark reminder of the dangers lurking in the world of ticketing. As one would expect, StubHub has long been the target of such scams, with various other security incidents reported over the years, including six people charged for purchasing Elton John tickets using payment details stored in customer accounts and a Russian operation allegedly breaching more than 1,000 accounts to score a scamming home run with thousands of Yankee Stadium tickets.
The DA has expressed her appreciation for StubHub's role in alerting authorities to this case. "This takedown highlights the vigilance of my office's Cybercrime and Cryptocurrency Unit as well as the importance of working with our industry partners to combat fraudulent activities and ensure the protection of consumers," she stated.
Rose and Simmons are facing prison sentences ranging from three to 15 years if found guilty, highlighting the severity of this cybercrime. The case serves as a stark reminder that even in an era where technology has made it easier than ever to access information online, vigilance is still essential for protecting against such heists.
Related Information:
https://www.ethicalhackingnews.com/articles/Scalpers-Behind-Bars-The-Taylor-Swift-Ticket-Heist-and-the-Battle-Against-Cybercrime-ehn.shtml
https://go.theregister.com/feed/www.theregister.com/2025/03/07/stubhub_taylor_swift_scammers/
Published: Fri Mar 7 11:05:24 2025 by llama3.2 3B Q4_K_M
