• June 21, 2024
  • Posted by General Electric Credit Union
  • 3 read

Ticketmaster Data Breach: Protecting Your Money in the Aftermath

There were 620 million tickets sold by Ticketmaster in 2023.1 While the site doesn’t require it, some users opt to store their credit card information under their profile to streamline the checkout process and potentially increase their chances of snagging sought-after tickets. Unfortunately, this practice can sometimes put you at risk. This was the case on May 28, 2024, when bad actors stole the personal information of more than 500 million Ticketmaster users—including their stored credit card data. If you're one of the many affected by the data breach, it's crucial to act quickly to safeguard your identity and money. 

What happened in the Ticketmaster data breach?

In May 2024, Ticketmaster, one of the world's leading ticket sales and distribution companies, announced a significant data breach. Cybercriminals exploited a vulnerability to gain unauthorized access to personal information, including names, email addresses, phone numbers, payment details, and possibly even passwords of millions of users.

Ticketmaster stated they would contact impacted individuals directly; however, if you have a Ticketmaster account, there are some steps you can take to protect your information now. 

Steps to protect your identity and money

Change your password, ASAP!

There’s sometimes a lag between when a bad actor sells your information and when a buyer starts using it. That’s why you should update your password as soon as possible, since it may help you intercept any fraudulent activity before it occurs on your Ticketmaster account. You can create strong, unique passwords by using a mix of uppercase letters, lowercase letters, numbers, and special characters. Avoid using easily guessable information like birthdays or common words.

Freeze your credit

Contact the three major credit bureaus, Equifax®, Experian™, and TransUnion®, to place a freeze on your credit. You’ll still be able to use existing forms of credit, like a credit card, but this will make it difficult for fraudsters to open new accounts in your name. You can temporarily lift the freeze if you need to apply for credit yourself. 

Report suspicious activity

If you have a Ticketmaster account, pay close attention to your transaction history to quickly spot unauthorized charges. If you do see one, report it to your bank or credit union immediately. They can take steps to protect you from further financial loss. 

In the event your identity is stolen, you can report the theft to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) at: IdentityTheft.gov. This can help you create a recovery plan.

The 2024 Ticketmaster data breach underscores the importance of protecting your personal information online. There are steps you can take to safeguard your accounts, such as changing your password immediately and not storing your credit card information on websites such as this. General Electric Credit Union also suggests its members use a digital wallet for an additional layer of security. These apps encrypt your card information when you complete a transaction. As a result, your chances of losing funds or having your identity stolen after a data breach are significantly lower. Visit our website to discover more benefits of digital wallets. 

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