Tickets with names, QR codes, OTPs: Maharashtra Cyber Dept issues stringent norms for events to avoid black marketing

The officer added all concerts and events likely to sell out or experience high demand will be required to implement name-based ticketing as part of a new set of security protocols designed to curb ticket scalping and black marketing.

In a notice issued to BookMyShow, whose instructions are also applicable to other digital ticketing platforms like Paytm Insider and Zomato Live, the Maharashtra Cyber Department outlined a detailed framework aimed at ensuring fairness and transparency in ticket sales. The measures include a combination of advanced security systems, random verification of attendee identities, and efforts to identify and prevent fraudulent ticket resale.

Another officer said they have issued a notice under Section 168 of the Bharatiya Nagrik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), which gives the police power to act to prevent cognisable offences, to these platforms. The steps that they have suggested include including names of the person on the ticket or band which has to be verified against a government ID at the venue. The name should also be engraved in the QR code which can be verified.

Apart from these, other measures that the platforms are expected to follow include deployment of artificial intelligence-powered systems to filter out bot traffic from legitimate users during ticket sales, using of a waitlist system and monitoring repeated attempts to bypass the queue, tracking and reporting patterns of suspicious activity, such as the use of the same mobile number, email, or payment method for multiple ticket purchases, to law enforcement, surveillance of social media platforms and online forums for instances of ticket resales at inflated prices, with reports to authorities for appropriate action.

Other measures include the deployment of undercover agents around the concert venue to identify and apprehend scalpers attempting to sell tickets at unauthorised prices, Random ID checks OTP Verification, Dynamic QR Codes, Tamper-Proof Bands and monitoring premium ticket sales

The new measures, aimed at protecting event organisers and genuine fans, are a response to the growing issue of online ticket scalping, where tickets are resold at significantly higher prices, often preventing real fans from attending popular events, an officer said.