Brief
DOJ sues San Diego ticket broker REPS & Co. over $120 million resale scheme
The lawsuit alleges REPS & Co. used bots and offshore workers to buy and resell 18.5 million tickets since 2022.
By Felo News Desk · Published
The U.S. Department of Justice filed a civil complaint on Oct. 15 against San Diego‑based ticket broker REPS & Co., accusing the firm of violating the Better Online Ticket Sales (BOTS) Act and earning roughly $120 million by flipping millions of concert tickets.
What happened
According to the complaint, REPS & Co. bought and resold more than 18.5 million tickets for 83,000 events since 2022, generating $120 million in profit. The firm allegedly hired offshore employees in the Philippines to open thousands of Ticketmaster and AXS accounts under false names, using analytics software and data‑scraping tools to target high‑demand shows such as Beyoncé’s 2023 Renaissance World Tour, Luke Bryan concerts and Post Malone performances. One cited example is the purchase of 5,430 tickets for a 2024 Pitbull show at the Empower FCU Amphitheater, nearly a third of the venue’s capacity.
What the reports add
Billboard notes that the DOJ’s civil division is acting on a referral from the Federal Trade Commission, which has previously sued brokers Key Investment Group and Elite Events for profits between $3.5 million and $6 million. The current case marks a dramatic escalation in scale, with the complaint describing an “Error Bible” used by REPS to track Ticketmaster error codes and circumvent security controls.
What was said
“Much of Defendants’ business operation revolves around circumventing ticket issuer ticket limits and other controls,” the DOJ complaint reads.
The filing seeks unspecified financial penalties, though no criminal charges are mentioned.
How it came about
The BOTS Act, enacted in 2016, became a priority for enforcement after a 2025 executive order by former President Donald Trump. Since then, the FTC has pursued multiple ticket‑scalping cases, and the DOJ’s latest suit builds on that enforcement trajectory, targeting what officials describe as the most extensive alleged bot‑driven resale operation to date.
Key facts
- The DOJ sued REPS & Co. on Oct. 15, 2026 for alleged BOTS Act violations. (billboard.com)
- The complaint alleges $120 million profit from reselling over 18.5 million tickets since 2022. (billboard.com)
- REPS allegedly used offshore workers in the Philippines to create thousands of Ticketmaster and AXS accounts. (billboard.com)
- One example cited is the purchase of 5,430 tickets for a 2024 Pitbull concert, nearly one‑third of the venue’s capacity. (billboard.com)
- The lawsuit seeks unspecified financial penalties and follows earlier FTC actions against other ticket brokers. (billboard.com)
Sources
- [1] billboard.com — originally reported as “DOJ Sues Broker That Allegedly Netted $120M Flipping Tickets to Beyoncé & More Tours”
