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KICK TOUT BOTS

Touts using ‘bots’ to snap up tickets will face unlimited fines under new rules

Sites such as Viagogo, StubHub and GetMeIn are also included in the Department's effort to block touts

Ed Sheeran

TOUTS who use computer programs to bulk buy tickets and resell them at rip-off prices will face unlimited fines.

Laws unveiled this week are designed to stop them snapping up thousands of seats for gigs or sports events the instant they are available online.

 Tickets to see Ed Sheeran sell out in minutes before being flogged for thousands
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Tickets to see Ed Sheeran sell out in minutes before being flogged for thousandsCredit: Reuters

The touts use “bots” — sophisticated software that dodges limits on sales — to buy up to 1,000 tickets at a time.

Official sales outlets such as Ticketmaster then sell out quickly and fans are forced to pay hugely-inflated prices on secondary ticketing websites.

Stars Adele and Ed Sheeran have both voiced frustration at touts making a fortune out of their gigs while genuine fans are ripped-off or left disappointed.

Seats for Phil Collins’ tour sold out in seconds on Ticketmaster last month — but touts were later found to be flogging £55 tickets for more than £2,000.

 Adele also sells out instantly leading touts to hike prices up for her fans
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Adele also sells out instantly leading touts to hike prices up for her fansCredit: AP:Associated Press

Culture Minister Matt Hancock said: “This profiteering is simply not fair.

"It is unacceptable that touts are misusing technology to buy up vast numbers of tickets before real fans get the chance.”

Alex Neill, of consumer group Which?, welcomed the crackdown, but said the authorities must take strong action against law-breakers to make it work.
UK Music’s Jo Dipple added: “Banning bots is a step forward.”

Ministers will also propose rules to make it clearer for customers to know what kind of ticket they are buying and exactly who from.

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