The FBI is investigating after the Colorado Rockies blamed an “external, malicious attack” for the meltdown that prevented fans from buying World Series tickets.

From ESPN:

We are going to be opening up a case looking into the possible compromise of the Web server in Irvine,” said Laura Eimiller, a spokeswoman for the FBI in Los Angeles.

The Irvine, Calif., Web servers are operated by Paciolan Inc., which handled the ticket sale.

Bob Bowman, CEO of MLB.com, Major League Baseball’s Internet wing, has said the system had been overloaded by powerful computers programmed to constantly generate five-digit codes that are meant to prove that an actual human is trying to buy tickets. Bowman said those computers were blocked from buying tickets but their attempts to connect weren’t discarded, allowing them to clog the system and ultimately knock it down.

The meltdown didn’t go over to well with Rockies fans, some of whom were said to have been chanting “We want tickets!” outside the Rockies’ offices.

FBI opens investigation into ‘attack’ on Rockies ticket system [ESPN]
(Photo:guano)

Want more consumer news? Visit our parent organization, Consumer Reports, for the latest on scams, recalls, and other consumer issues.