Ticketmaster is one of the largest ticket providers for live entertainment events in the world. When highly anticipated concerts or shows go on sale, Ticketmaster often experiences very high website traffic from fans trying to purchase tickets. To try to ensure tickets are sold fairly and aren’t all immediately purchased by automated bots or scalpers looking to resell them at a profit, Ticketmaster utilizes bot detection technology on their website. This can sometimes flag regular customers as bot activity incorrectly. If you receive a notification from Ticketmaster that you have been detected as a bot, don’t panic. Here are some tips on what to do and how to avoid this in the future when purchasing tickets.
Why does Ticketmaster think you are a bot?
Ticketmaster’s bot detection system monitors website traffic for patterns that indicate automated bot activity rather than normal human use. Some of the factors it looks for include:
– Repeated rapid clicks or purchases across the site
– Use of bots or specialty software to purchase tickets
– Purchases from data center IP addresses
– Lack of human-like browsing and mouse movement
If your activity matches some of these patterns, you may get flagged as a potential bot wrongly. This is more common if you are rapidly searching for tickets because a show is about to sell out. Don’t take it personally, as their system is just trying to detect scalpers!
What to do if Ticketmaster thinks you are a bot
If you receive a notice while purchasing tickets that you have been detected as a bot, follow these steps:
– Don’t panic! This doesn’t necessarily mean you are completely blocked from purchasing tickets.
– Try completing reCAPTCHA challenges if prompted. This verifies you are a human user.
– If your purchase did not go through, try again in a few minutes on a new browsing session. Slow down your searching and clicking so you appear more human.
– As a last resort, you can contact Ticketmaster customer support. Explain you are a real fan trying to buy tickets and believe you were mistakenly flagged.
– If you make an account with Ticketmaster in advance, this can help you avoid issues by establishing your identity with them early.
How to avoid being detected as a bot in the future
To reduce chances of Ticketmaster thinking you are a bot when purchasing popular tickets, keep these tips in mind:
– Make a Ticketmaster account in advance and ensure your identity is verified.
– Clear your browser cookies and cache before the tickets go on sale to start a fresh session.
– When searching for tickets, change filters and browse other sections of their site to appear more human.
– Be sure to scroll up and down on pages and don’t rapidly click or navigate.
– If you will use multiple devices, use different internet connections like mobile data vs WiFi.
– Don’t use any special tools or bots to gain an advantage over others in purchasing.
– If all else fails, contact customer service for assistance from a human.
Detailed Steps on What to Do if Ticketmaster Flags You as a Bot
If you are mistakenly flagged as a bot by Ticketmaster when trying to purchase tickets, don’t panic. Here is a step-by-step guide on what you can do to resolve the issue:
- Take a deep breath and stay calm. Getting flagged does not necessarily mean you are completely blocked from getting tickets.
- If prompted, carefully complete any reCAPTCHA challenges. These prove to Ticketmaster you are a real human user and not an automated program.
- If your ticket purchase did not go through, wait a few minutes and try again. Make sure to slow down your searching and clicking this time around.
- Try searching for and viewing other events that you are not trying to purchase to appear more like a genuine user.
- Avoid rapidly clicking between pages or filters. Scroll up and down and let pages fully load.
- Make sure you are not using any specialty bots, automated tools, or suspicious VPNs/proxies, as these can get detected.
- Clear your browser history and cookies before attempting your purchase again in a fresh browsing session.
- If possible, try your purchase again from a different IP address on cellular data vs WiFi.
- If issues persist, contact Ticketmaster customer support via phone or chat. Calmly explain your situation and that you believe their system mistakenly flagged you.
- As a last resort, you can attempt to purchase tickets directly at the venue’s box office to avoid Ticketmaster’s bot detection.
The key is appearing human with your searching and interactions on their website. With patience and a few tweaks to your approach, Ticketmaster should recognize you as a real fan and allow you to finalize your purchase!
Helpful Tips to Avoid Bot Detection in the Future
Here are some helpful tips to keep in mind for avoiding issues with Ticketmaster’s bot detection when purchasing popular tickets in high demand:
- Make a Ticketmaster account ahead of time and verify your identity. This establishes you as a genuine user.
- Ensure you are accessing Ticketmaster from only one IP address and device at a time during high demand sales.
- Clear your browser history and cookies before the sale begins so you start a fresh session.
- Don’t immediately click and purchase the first tickets you see. Browse other sections and change filters periodically.
- Scroll up, down, left, and right during your session. Avoid rapid clicking between pages.
- Slow down in general! Bot detection looks for super human speeds and efficiency.
- Never use bots, automated purchasing tools, or suspicious VPNs/proxies as these will get detected.
- If you plan to use multiple devices, ensure each uses a different internet connection.
- Contact customer support immediately if you suspect you were mistakenly flagged as a bot.
Avoiding appearing overly robotic in your searching and purchasing is key. With a few precautions, you should be able to demonstrate to Ticketmaster you are just an eager human fan!
Why Ticketmaster Implements Bot Detection
Ticketmaster utilizes bot detection technology and reCAPTCHA on their website to try to ensure fair access to high demand tickets for genuine fans. This protects against:
Bots and Scalpers
Sophisticated bots can automatically search for and purchase tickets en masse faster than any human could. These tickets often end up posted on resale sites at inflated prices. Bot detection helps reduce this activity.
Suspicious Activity
Unusual patterns like rapidly repeated searches, purchases from data centers, and other non-human behavior may indicate criminal fraud or security risks. Bot detection helps flag this.
Server Overloads
An onslaught of bot traffic during a hot ticket sale could overload servers and crash the site for everyone. Detecting and blocking bots protects infrastructure and performance.
Unfair Advantages
Special tools that autosnipe or autorefresh inventory give an advantage over normal fans. Bot detection aims to keep things fair.
While bot detection may occasionally impact legitimate customers, overall it ensures tickets get into the hands of genuine fans. Setting up your account in advance and taking precautions when purchasing can help minimize issues.
Comparison of Bot Detection Techniques Used by Major Ticket Vendors
Ticket Vendor | Bot Detection Methods |
---|---|
Ticketmaster | – reCAPTCHA challenges – Monitoring rapidly repeated searches/purchases – Detecting suspicious IP addresses – Analyzing browsing patterns |
StubHub | – reCAPTCHA – Rate limiting searches – Blocking suspicious IPs |
VividSeats | – Device fingerprinting – Browser pattern analysis – ANTibot site monitoring |
SeatGeek | – Human interaction tests – IP and location verification – Browser fingerprint scanning |
While techniques vary, all major ticketing platforms now utilize advanced bot detection to ensure fair ticket access. Creating an account and taking steps to appear human when purchasing can help fans avoid issues.
Conclusion
Getting mistakenly flagged as bot activity by Ticketmaster can be frustrating, but don’t panic. With a few precautions, you can demonstrate you are a genuine fan and complete your ticket purchase:
– Verify your identity by creating an account in advance
– Slow down searching and clicking during purchases
– Browse other sections before purchasing tickets
– If issues persist, contact customer support
– Avoid using tools/bots and suspicious VPNs/proxies
Bot detection aims to keep ticket sales fair andfoil scalpers. While it may impact some legitimate customers initially, a few tweaks to your purchasing approach should resolve any problems. With patience and care taken to appear human in your interactions, you’ll be cheering on your favorite team or artist in no time!