In my experience touts don't even need to use the net to get tickets. They just queue up in the old fashioned way or get gangs of kids to do it for them. Thats why tickets are on sale on Ebay before thay are even released, the touts know exactly when and where to fill these queues at box offices and they know they will get all the tickets they need. And with a limit of four per person they just make sure thay have enough people in the queue. I'm not sure the internet ticket companies even cross-reference with each other anyway so whats to stop anyone buying four from each of two or more agencies. Thats unlikely though given the nature of the net and pressure on the sites so the safest way for the touts is to hit the Box offices. They should refuse cash sales at box offices or restrict the age at which you can buy a ticket. Most of the touts people are kids.

Well, Ebay is a Fantastic thing to have. I use it loads and loads and loads for books, CDs, DVDs, clothes, etc. But they really should prohibit selling concert tickets there - At least over the face-value. It has opened up a brand new market for touts to sell tickets for obscene prices and to make fast cash.
I have e-mailed eBay several times about this but their response is always the same: very polite but referring to the legislation.
I'm all for concert tickets being sold on eBay but for NO MORE than the face value of the ticket.

I know there is some surety ordering tickets officially but with a service charge of 6 euro per ticket - not even per deal! - they're doing very nicely out of us too, while their customer service is very variable. The whole area could do with an overhaul, and hopefully some sympathetic entrepreneur will figure out something soon.

Here's a link, without complications I hope, to 9 photographs of Morrissey and PJ Harvey in action in Scotland over a year ago (remove any mischievous spaces first):
http://flickr.com/photos/shauna/sets/55360/