AXS Sues Website Alleged to Facilitate Fake Ticket Sales

AEG’s ticketing subsidiary AXS has filed a lawsuit against SecureMyPass.com, accusing the website of helping ticket brokers generate counterfeit tickets that have left fans stranded at venue doors.

The complaint, filed in Los Angeles federal court on January 13, alleges trademark counterfeiting, infringement, unfair competition, and breach of contract.

According to AXS, SecureMyPass enables scalpers to “spoof” tickets by creating fake passes that carry AXS branding, which are then sold to unsuspecting consumers. “Because these counterfeit tickets are not genuine AXS tickets, broker resellers may deliver multiple copies of the same ticket, defrauding customers who are turned away when their ticket has already been redeemed and causing venues to find alternate accommodations for counterfeit ticket holders,” the complaint states.

The lawsuit details how AXS uses multiple security measures – including rotating QR codes, unique identification numbers, and digital watermarks – to prevent ticket fraud. SecureMyPass allegedly copies these visual elements while bypassing AXS’s security infrastructure, creating what the company calls “counterfeit products” that appear authentic to buyers.

SecureMyPass reportedly offers a browser add-on that records interactions between ticket brokers and the AXS website, then generates replica tickets. These tickets display rotating QR codes similar to legitimate passes but remain tied to the broker’s account rather than the purchaser’s identity. “For this reason, the broker could easily send the same link to multiple buyers, creating a race to the venue. Once the first buyer scans into the venue using the Counterfeit Product, all remaining latecomers would be denied access at the venue gate,” the complaint states.

AXS claims these counterfeit tickets have caused real-world problems at events across the United States. At a Lorde concert on October 14, 2025, at Colorado’s Red Rocks Amphitheatre, at least seven customers were denied entry after attempting to scan tickets purchased through SecureMyPass. Similarly, on January 4, 2025, a fan attending an LA Kings vs. Tampa Bay Lightning game discovered that his ticket listed nonexistent seats, despite the QR code initially scanning successfully at Crypto.com Arena.

The company notes that fake tickets also lack features that may come with authentic AXS passes, including access to VIP areas, exclusive merchandise, meet-and-greet opportunities, and venue parking passes. AXS claims that SecureMyPass has partially acknowledged these issues; the website’s FAQs, included as exhibits in the lawsuit, reportedly admit that venues such as Crypto.com Arena have denied entry to customers with cloned tickets and warn that entry cannot be guaranteed at certain locations.

Customer complaints are cited throughout the lawsuit. One ticket holder reportedly wrote: “I got an email from AXS saying Urgent: Ticket Acceptance to get my tickets into my AXS account; however, the link in the email is to a website called SecureMyPass – it does not allow me to save the tickets to my AXS account.” Another customer described arriving at a sold-out venue only to be turned away, leaving her frustrated and out of pocket for travel and accommodation costs.

AXS is seeking statutory damages of up to $2 million per trademark per type of counterfeit product, along with a permanent injunction to prevent SecureMyPass from using AXS branding or assisting in ticket fraud. If successful, the lawsuit could serve as a precedent in the live events industry, where fraudulent ticket sales have long posed a threat to both fans and event organisers.

“The integrity of ticket sales is essential to the live events ecosystem,” an AXS spokesperson said. “Our goal is to ensure fans can safely purchase tickets and access the experiences they’ve paid for. We will take all necessary legal steps to prevent bad actors from exploiting our system and undermining trust in the ticketing process.”

The case comes amid a growing focus on ticket fraud in the entertainment industry. Analysts note that advances in digital ticketing have made it easier for fraudsters to replicate tickets or bypass authentication, creating new challenges for companies like AXS, Ticketmaster, and other major platforms. AXS argues that SecureMyPass’s approach—cloning security elements such as QR codes while linking them to broker accounts—is a particularly sophisticated form of fraud, making it difficult for consumers and venues to detect the scam until it’s too late.

Ticket scalping and fraud are longstanding issues in the live events market. The secondary ticketing industry is estimated to be worth billions globally, and unauthorised resellers have been known to employ bots, automated scripts, and other methods to buy high-demand tickets and resell them at inflated prices. However, legal experts say the allegations against SecureMyPass go further by creating counterfeit digital products, effectively manufacturing fake tickets that can leave multiple fans unable to enter a venue.

AXS highlights that these counterfeit tickets are not only financially damaging but also disrupt the overall fan experience. In addition to being denied entry, customers who purchase these fake tickets may miss out on perks included with genuine AXS tickets, such as VIP access, merchandise bundles, and exclusive meet-and-greets. In some cases, fans report confusion when QR codes initially scan successfully, only for entry to be refused at the gate, creating a sense of frustration and distrust toward the ticketing system.

Industry insiders say this lawsuit could encourage stronger regulatory and technological measures against ticket fraud. “This case demonstrates the need for companies to continually innovate on security while holding bad actors accountable,” said one ticketing analyst. “It’s a wake-up call for the industry and the public to remain vigilant about where they buy tickets.”

SecureMyPass.com has not publicly commented on the lawsuit. Legal proceedings are expected to continue through preliminary hearings, with attention on how courts handle allegations of ticket “spoofing” and digital counterfeiting.

Fans are advised to purchase tickets only through verified sources and official platforms to avoid falling victim to scams.