Ticketmaster was hacked. What to know if you bought tickets to an Iowa concert, event

Victoria Reyna-Rodriguez, Victoria E. Freile, James Powel and Saleen Martin, Des Moines Register

Ticketmaster has confirmed that some customers' personal information has been hacked and compromised, after customers posted notices that Ticketmaster sent notifying them of an involvement in the breach.

The notice, included in a filing with the Maine Attorney General, said that "an unauthorized third party obtained information from a cloud database hosted by a third-party data services provider," between April 2 and May 18.

The company said the breach affected more than 1,000 customers in the filing. PC Mag reported Friday that a hacking group called ShinyHunters claimed to have stolen 1.3TB of data from the ticket broker.

Ticketmaster pointed to a support document when asked for comment but did not provide further comment. The document states that the breach involves customers who purchased tickets with the company in North America.

What happened in Ticketmaster data breach?

According to Ticketmaster, the company "discovered unauthorized activity on an isolated cloud database hosted by a third-party data services provider." No further unauthorized activity occurred in this database since Ticketmaster started investigating the breach.

What information was involved?

The database contained limited personal information of some customers who bought tickets to events in North America (U.S., Canada and/or Mexico). Accessed information, "may include email, phone number, encrypted credit card information as well as some other personal information provided to us," according to Ticketmaster. The company said it believes that customers who were not notified were not compromised in the breach.

What can customers do if affected by Ticketmaster data hack?

The company recommended for customers monitor their credit and bank accounts for signs of suspicious activity. Be cautious of unsolicited emails from unknown senders, especially those with unusual content, links, attachments, or requests for personal information over the phone, the company suggested. Ticketmaster passwords were not affected by the breach, but users can update their password any time they log on to the website.

What is Ticketmaster is doing for impacted customers?

Ticketmaster is offering customers a free 12-month credit or identity monitoring service through TransUnion, according to the company. Customers must enroll within 90 days of receiving the notice.

What venues in Des Moines, central Iowa use Ticketmaster?

While big venues like Wells Fargo Arena or facilities managed by Des Moines Performing Arts like the Civic Center don't use Ticketmaster, several popular venues in Des Moines do.

If you've attended a show at one of these locations, you've likely ordered through Ticketmaster:

  • Hoyt Sherman Place in Des Moines

  • Vibrant Music Hall in Waukee uses Live Nation, which is Ticketmaster's parent company

  • Stephens Auditorium and Iowa State Center facilities

This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Ticketmaster security breach may have impacted Iowans’ personal data

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