The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, through Monroe County District Attorney Michael Mancuso, has filed a lawsuit against StubHub Inc., alleging violations of the Pennsylvania Unfair Trade Practices and Consumer Protection Law.

This marks the second lawsuit filed by the DA’s new Consumer Fraud Division, led by Special Assistant District Attorney Patrick Best.

The complaint seeks to end StubHub’s alleged use of unfair and deceptive “junk fees” charged to consumers purchasing tickets on the company’s website and mobile app. The commonwealth is also seeking restitution for affected consumers.

StubHub, an online marketplace where users can buy and sell tickets for live entertainment events, is accused of employing bait-and-switch tactics and digital “dark patterns” that mislead consumers.

The practices allegedly obscure the actual price of tickets, tricking buyers into decisions they might not otherwise make.

Prosecutors say this behavior constitutes unfair competition and prevents consumers from making informed choices and conducting effective comparison shopping.

The complaint outlines three primary deceptive practices:

• Drip pricing — where hidden fees are revealed only at checkout.

• Fee misrepresentation — falsely advertising lower prices.

• Inaccurate fee filters — making it difficult for consumers to find tickets within their desired price range.

According to the complaint, these practices can increase the advertised price of a ticket by up to 66%, violating state consumer protection laws.

The lawsuit seeks injunctive relief to stop the alleged deceptive practices, along with restitution, civil penalties and attorney’s fees.

“Consumers deserve transparency and honesty, especially when spending their hard-earned money on entertainment,” Best said. “StubHub’s practices obscure the true cost of tickets and prevent consumers from making informed decisions.

“We will fight to ensure that StubHub is held accountable and that commonwealth consumers are protected.”

The Monroe County District Attorney’s Office is being assisted by attorneys from Tycko & Zavareei LLP, a consumer rights law firm that has successfully represented California consumers in similar claims against StubHub and is currently representing the District of Columbia in a related case.

The case is Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, by Monroe County District Attorney Michael Mancuso v. StubHub Inc., filed in the Court of Common Pleas, Monroe County.