Page 120 - Cyber Defense eMagazine January 2023

Sell tickets to Fans, Not to Bots.

By PJ Rohall, Head of Fraud Strategy & Education - SEON

It can be upsetting when you try to purchase a ticket for an event only to discover they are already sold
out. Still, you can find some comfort in knowing you lost them to devoted fans who were as excited as
you to go to the event. But what if those tickets were bought by bots whose only purpose was to resell
them later for an insanely high price? How would you feel then? How much would it take to trust the
company selling tickets again, or would you just give up, thinking there is no point in trying? The event
industry is in real danger of being overwhelmed by bots at the expense of true fans. It is more important
than ever to start taking the proper steps to protect themselves and provide customers with a positive
ticket-purchasing experience.

Photo: Unsplash

What exactly are bots?

Even though they have a significant presence on the internet, most people are not even aware of the
existence of the bots. Bots are computer software created to handle repetitive tasks that would have to
be typically accomplished manually. They can complete these tasks faster, cheaper, and more accurately
than humans, which significantly saves time and resources companies would have to invest to
accomplish these tasks. While all bots are initially neutral until their makers give them their task, we

Cyber Defense eMagazine – January 2023 Edition 120
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