Two individuals have been arrested for their alleged involvement in a cybercrime scheme that exploited a backdoor in the StubHub ticketing platform to steal nearly 1,000 tickets, primarily for Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour. The suspects, Tyrone Rose, 20, and Shamara P. Simmons, 31, were apprehended in Queens, New York. They allegedly generated over $600,000 by accessing StubHub’s system through a third-party contractor, Sutherland.
Over the course of their operation, which spanned from June 2022 to July 2023, it is claimed they conducted about 350 orders, acquiring a total of 993 tickets. The duo used their inside access to find a backdoor within StubHub’s network to queue sold tickets for email delivery. Information on the tickets was then relayed to an accomplice, who is now deceased, before the tickets were listed for resale on StubHub.
The alleged profits from this cybercrime not only included tickets for Taylor Swift’s concerts but also covered events like Ed Sheeran concerts, NBA games, and the U.S. Open Tennis Championships. Investigations are still ongoing, as authorities continue to scrutinize the network of individuals involved.
In related news, the world’s largest illicit online marketplace, Huione Guarantee, has faced regulatory intervention, with its banking license suspended in Cambodia due to non-compliance with regulations concerning scam operations. Furthermore, the U.S. Department of Justice announced actions against the Russian cryptocurrency exchange Garantex for facilitating money laundering and other criminal activities, processing over $96 billion in transactions since April 2019.
Lastly, a recent warning from the FBI indicated scammers are impersonating members of the BianLian ransomware group in attempts to extort U.S. corporate executives by making false claims of data breaches and demanding ransoms ranging from $250,000 to $500,000. These developments highlight the increasing sophistication and reach of cybercriminals in today’s digital landscape.
For more details, you can read the full stories on the following links:
- Cybercriminals Allegedly Used a Backdoor to Steal Taylor Swift Tickets
- Payment Provider Linked to ‘Largest Illicit Online Marketplace’ Loses Banking License
- Russian Cryptocurrency Exchange Garantex Taken Down in Law Enforcement Action
- Scammers Are Impersonating Notorious Ransomware Attackers to Extort Targets
