Ticketmaster is one of the largest ticket sales and distribution companies in the world. They sell tickets for various events like concerts, sports games, theater shows and more. Recently, some customers have reported being asked to provide their Social Security number when purchasing tickets online from Ticketmaster. This has caused confusion and raised privacy concerns among customers.
Reasons Ticketmaster May Request SSN
There are a few reasons why Ticketmaster may ask for your Social Security number when buying tickets:
Identity Verification | To ensure the customer is who they say they are and prevent fraud. |
Credit Check | For high-demand events, a credit check may be done to verify customers can pay. |
Rewards Program | An SSN may be requested for enrollment in Ticketmaster’s rewards program. |
Taxes | For large ticket orders, Ticketmaster may request a SSN for tax reporting purposes. |
However, providing a SSN is rarely required for routine ticket purchases on Ticketmaster. Customers can often opt out if requested during checkout.
Customer Concerns
Many customers are wary of providing their Social Security number online due to privacy and security concerns. Some of the concerns include:
- Identity theft – SSNs can be used to steal someone’s identity or commit fraud.
- Data breaches – Ticketmaster has consumer data that could be compromised in a breach.
- Unnecessary request – Customers feel a SSN should not be required for buying event tickets.
- No stated purpose – Ticketmaster does not explain why they need the SSN.
Without a justified reason that is clearly communicated, customers are often reluctant to provide sensitive information like a SSN online.
When Ticketmaster Requests SSN
While occasional, there are some circumstances where Ticketmaster may request your Social Security number when purchasing tickets. This typically occurs in the following situations:
Purchasing Large Group Orders
If you are purchasing a very large ticket order for a group, conference, or event, Ticketmaster may ask for your SSN for reporting purposes. Some reasons include:
- IRS 1099 reporting – By law, Ticketmaster must report gross ticket sales over $600 to the IRS, which may require a SSN.
- Event organizer requirements – The organizers of large events may require Ticketmaster to collect SSNs for ticket purchases over a certain amount.
Providing your SSN allows Ticketmaster to accurately report large ticket sales to the appropriate tax authorities.
Signing Up for Ticketmaster Rewards
Ticketmaster has a rewards program that provides members with special perks and discounts on tickets. When you enroll in Ticketmaster Rewards, you may be prompted to enter your SSN as part of the program registration process.
Reasons for requesting a SSN can include:
- Verifying your identity and preventing duplicate rewards accounts.
- Accurately reporting rewards earnings to tax authorities for large account balances.
This allows Ticketmaster to confirm your identity and stay compliant with IRS tax reporting requirements if you earn substantial rewards.
Purchasing Tickets for a Hot Show or Event
For extremely high-demand concerts and shows where tickets sell out instantly, Ticketmaster may prompt for your SSN during checkout. Some potential reasons are:
- Performing a credit check to verify you can pay for expensive tickets that will be quickly charged to your credit card.
- Limiting ticket scalpers who are trying to buy hot tickets in bulk for resale by verifying identities.
- Helping enforce ticket purchase limits by identifying unique customers.
When shows are likely to sell-out immediately, Ticketmaster tries to ensure tickets get into the hands of genuine fans.
Making a Large Purchase with an Unverified Account
If you have a new or unverified Ticketmaster account with no purchase history, you may be asked for a SSN when making a large ticket purchase. This acts as an identity confirmation when other verification data is lacking.
Some scenarios where this can occur:
- Making a high-dollar ticket purchase shortly after opening a new account.
- Purchasing expensive tickets as a guest without creating an account.
- Buying tickets as an international customer without a U.S. credit history.
Supplying your SSN allows Ticketmaster to confirm your identity and avoid fraudulent transactions or scalping attempts.
Providing Your Social Security Number to Ticketmaster
When Ticketmaster requests your SSN, you typically have the option to decline providing it. However, refusing may mean you can’t complete the ticket purchase in certain situations.
Here are some tips on supplying your SSN:
Only Provide on Official Ticketmaster Website
You should only enter your SSN on the legitimate Ticketmaster website when logged into your account. Never give out your SSN over the phone or in response to an email request.
Know Why It’s Needed
Don’t provide your SSN blindly. Make sure Ticketmaster explains why they need it, and only give it out for legitimate purposes like tax reporting requirements.
Use Credit Card When Possible
If Ticketmaster only needs identity confirmation for payment, opt to provide a credit card number rather than your Social Security number when possible.
Create a Unique Login
Don’t use your SSN as your Ticketmaster account username or password. Create a secure unique login credential to protect your identity.
Check Site Security
Only provide sensitive data like a SSN on secure webpages that display “https” in the URL and have the lock icon. This means the connection is encrypted.
Following these tips allows you to purchase event tickets from Ticketmaster while cautiously protecting your Social Security number and personal data.
Ticketmaster Privacy and Data Security
With valid concerns around providing personal information online, it’s reasonable for consumers to question how Ticketmaster handles privacy and secures data.
Use of Secure Systems and Encryption
Ticketmaster states that sensitive customer data is stored in secure systems protected by encryption. This makes information unreadable without authorized access.
Limited Employee Access
The company restricts employee access to personal customer data to only those needing it carry out job duties like customer support. Unnecessary internal access is prohibited.
PCI Compliant
Ticketmaster claims their systems are PCI compliant, meaning financial data security standards are met for accepting credit/debit cards.
Policies Against Misuse
Ticketmaster has internal policies prohibiting employee misuse of customer data, and states they may terminate workers for violations.
However, some security experts say Ticketmaster has not provided enough specifics regarding their systems and protocols for handling personal data. This makes it difficult for consumers to assess if privacy safeguards are adequate.
Past Data Breaches
A notable concern is that Ticketmaster has suffered major data breaches exposing customer information in recent years.
In 2018, hackers accessed payment details and personal data for up to 40 million Ticketmaster customers in North America and the U.K. The breach exposed names, addresses, emails and payment card numbers.
This highlights vulnerabilities in Ticketmaster’s systems and casts doubt on their data protections. Strict security is critical when entrusted with sensitive info like Social Security numbers.
Alternatives to Providing Your Social Security Number
If you are uncomfortable giving Ticketmaster your SSN, here are some possible alternatives to discuss with their customer service:
- Use a credit card instead – Cite identity verification is not necessary for payment processing.
- Offer driver’s license or passport – Suggest these as forms of ID verification instead.
- Provide recent utility bill – Use as proof of name and address paired with photo ID.
- Login via Facebook/Google – Linking your existing verified social accounts may bypass SSN requests.
- Verify by phone – Offer to confirm identity in a call with a customer service agent.
You may be able to push back on requests for your SSN if Ticketmaster has other reasonable ways to verify your identity and complete your ticket purchase.
Use Another Ticket Seller
If Ticketmaster will not budge on requesting your Social Security number, you may have to take your business elsewhere. Some other major ticket sellers include:
- StubHub
- VividSeats
- SeatGeek
- AXS
- LiveNation
While these companies may also occasionally ask for a SSN for tax purposes on large orders, their requirements are generally less stringent compared to Ticketmaster.
Conclusion
Ticketmaster asking for your Social Security number can seem unnecessary, intrusive, and raise privacy issues. However, in some situations like tax reporting requirements, identity verification, and high-demand events, the request may be warranted from Ticketmaster’s perspective.
Customers should only provide a SSN when truly convinced it’s imperative to complete a ticket purchase. You can also explore alternatives like using a credit card or verifying your identity another way. If Ticketmaster will not work with you, taking your business to a competitor may be the best option to protect your personal information.