STARTO Official Resale "RELIEF Ticket" Personal Information Leak: Fans' Disappointment and Challenges for Preventing Recurrence

1 "Anticipated" Official Resale Launches Amidst Turmoil

STARTO ENTERTAINMENT (formerly Johnny & Associates) launched "RELIEF Ticket" on June 23 as a countermeasure against ticket scalping. The announcement at 4 PM on the same day highlighted a system allowing electronic tickets purchased through the Family Club to be resold at face value, emphasizing "safe and secure transfers at the ticket's face value."j-cast.com

2 Hidden "Inconveniences" in Fees and Usage Conditions

Sellers are required to pay a 10% fee on the ticket's face value, buyers must pay 15% plus a 3% payment fee, and an additional remittance fee of 275 yen is necessary. There is also a restriction that prevents listing only one ticket if two are won. Purchases are made on a "first-come, first-served" basis rather than by lottery, and even non-fan club members can purchase if they register an account. Fans have criticized this setup, saying, "It's overpriced even though it's official," and "First-come, first-served favors scalpers."j-cast.com

3 Incident Details—Cookie Leak Due to Cache Setting Error

At 6:15 PM on the 23rd, server-side caching was strengthened to avoid display delays due to high access. However, login identification cookies were mistakenly included in the cache, resulting in other users' My Pages being displayed, allowing access to view and change addresses, phone numbers, and the last three digits of card numbers. The issue was identified around 10 PM, and all users were forcibly logged out while the settings were corrected.relief-ticket.jp

4 Official Statement and Measures to Prevent Recurrence

Young Communication issued an apology on the 24th, stating, "We deeply apologize for the great inconvenience and concern caused." Pia also released a similar document detailing the timeline, explaining that it was "an internal setting error, not an external attack." Both companies have jointly established a committee to prevent recurrence, outlining plans to ① review the code review system, ② continuously operate vulnerability diagnostics, and ③ strengthen the system for 24-hour monitoring, although no specific implementation timeline has been provided.young-communication.jprelief-ticket.jp

5 Anger and Anxiety Swirling on Social Media

• "First-come, first-served just hands scalpers bullets at face value."

• "I saw someone else's account info and quit. Do they deserve to be called official?"

• "Paying high fees for this isn't 'RELIEF' but 'RELIEF less.'"
  Such posts rapidly spread on X (formerly Twitter), and by the night of the 24th, "#RELIEFTicketWithdrawal" ranked 8th in domestic trends. Compilation sites also reposted "proof videos of being able to edit someone else's account," accelerating the backlash.cyzo.jpj-cast.com
  
  
  

6 Legal Regulations and Market Trends—The Next Issue for the "Ticket Resale Prohibition Law"

The ticket resale prohibition law enacted in 2019 imposes penalties based on "profit motive" and "exceeding face value," but the loss of trust in official resales could induce a "demand shift" towards illegal resales. Experts point out that unless event organizers can establish an official distribution network that balances security and UX, the effectiveness of the law cannot be guaranteed.kai-you.net

7 Comparison: Resale Models of Other Agencies and Industries

Sony Music and LDH limit fees to 5-10% and require fan club IDs for purchases, with resales determined by lottery. Overseas, Ticketmaster uses two-factor authentication to eliminate bots, achieving some defense even with a first-come, first-served method. STARTO may need to adopt similar measures.

8 Key Points to Watch

• timelesz Arena Tour: Opening on June 28, resale acceptance from 5 days before the performance will be the first test after the system overhaul

• System Update Roadmap: STARTO has announced it will "disclose details within a few days." The presence of external audits is a focal point

• User Compensation: Individual contact with those whose information was viewed has begun, but full refunds or compensation for ID reissuance costs for those who wish are undecided
  
  
  
  

9 Editorial Comment

Official resale is originally a "fan relief measure," but the series of disruptions this time has shaken the premise that "official = safe." A service cannot be established without both UX and security. Until the effectiveness of the recurrence prevention measures is visible, it is natural for users to remain cautious. STARTO and its affiliates need to regain fans' trust not only by improving technical aspects but also by enhancing transparency in information disclosure.

Reference Article List

• KAI-YOU "Personal Information Leak on STARTO's Official Resale Site Due to Operational Error"kai-you.net

• Pia Corporation "Report and Apology Regarding Personal Information"sponichi.co.jp

• Young Communication "Report and Apology Regarding the Official Resale Service 'RELIEF Ticket'"young-communication.jp

• J-CAST News "STARTO's Long-Awaited Official Resale Site: Too Many Restrictions, Too High Fees, Fans Disappointed?"j-cast.com

• Cyzo Woman "'Targeted by Scalpers': STARTO's Ticket Official Resale Service Launches Amidst Rising Complaints"cyzo.jp