Fraud investigation email

[ally10]

Hi, I got an email stating:

“We have recently been handed a file relating to an incident on the 1st of December 2023 when approached by staff carrying out their revenue duties, you were asked to show your valid ticket you offered a ticket with a railcard attached and were unable to present your railcard, therefore you would not have been eligible for the discounted rate.


Further investigations into this matter have been carried out, including a review of the ticket records. It would appear, at this stage, that this may be a case of fraud. West Midlands Trains take travel fraud extremely seriously and is committed to prosecuting all cases of fare evasion to the full extent of the law. Travelling on the railway with the intent to avoid paying the full fare is an offence under the Regulation of Railways Act 1889. Such an offence carries a maximum fine of £1,000 and/or three months’ imprisonment and, in either case, a criminal record. It must also be considered whether this matter amounts to a much more serious offence under the Fraud Act 2006.



At this stage we would be grateful if you would provide any evidence to support the claim that none of the above legislation has been contravened to prevent further action being contemplated.



We look forward to hearing from you. “

I bought two return tickets on trainline app; one for myself, the other for my mum

Mine was from Bristol temple meads to Taunton return with 16-25 railcard

My mums was Worle to Taunton return no railcard.

At that time, I had a railcard, and as my memory remembers, I had no incident where the conductor asked for my railcard and I couldn’t give it (as I have a digital one). There were no issues at all between staff and I.

The email looks legitimate, and they had my name and date of travel correct, and it seems like all the other emails people have received, but I never had an encounter with staff where I couldn’t show my Railcard, which is why I’ve emailed West Midlands fraud team from their website’s email asking if they have emailed me or if it’s phishing (not responded yet), but not sure what to do or put if it is a real case as it’s not true.

I even checked my mums ticket to see if I accidentally put my railcard discount on when I bought hers, but I took screenshots of the pricing and it matches with the full price without a railcard (which was £10.60).

I’ve never bought a railcard ticket without a railcard either, so there’s no other instances that has happened.

Any advice would be appreciated.

 

[signed]

when approached by staff carrying out their revenue duties

That would indicate they stopped her physically on the service that day, has that really happened?

 

[Bletchleyite]

More confusing is why WMT are emailing you about a journey taken on GWR. Unless they use a shared supplier to do fraud investigation, but I wasn't aware of either using TIL or similar.

The e-mail is likely genuine, but could someone have given false details (yours)?

 

[AlterEgo]

This email is from West Midlands Trains. You travelled with GWR on that date and if your info is correct you were nowhere near West Midlands Trains network.

Sounds like somone you know has given your details when stopped.

 

[ally10]

More confusing is why WMT are emailing you about a journey taken on GWR. Unless they use a shared supplier to do fraud investigation, but I wasn't aware of either using TIL or similar.

The e-mail is likely genuine, but could someone have given false details (yours)?

This email is from West Midlands Trains. You travelled with GWR on that date and if your info is correct you were nowhere near West Midlands Trains network.

Sounds like somone you know has given your details when stopped.

I did think that, but wasn’t sure if they somehow linked or joined and use one fraud team.

But I guess my name and email isn’t uncommon, so could be either a scam or someone using my name and email.

Thanks.

 

[furlong]

They have 6 months to prosecute under RORA that they mention, so their time has basically run out.
Fraud requires a high standard of proof and so is rarely prosecuted even when there's a pattern of offending.

People do give false details.
Or do you have a common name, that they have found a false match to someone with a similar name?

 

[AlterEgo]

I did think that, but wasn’t sure if they somehow linked or joined and use one fraud team.

But I guess my name and email isn’t uncommon, so could be either a scam or someone using my name and email.

Thanks.

I would recommend responding saying you were not stopped, and supply evidence of your journey in the South West that day.

 

[ally10]

They have 6 months to prosecute under RORA that they mention, so their time has basically run out.
Fraud requires a high standard of proof and so is rarely prosecuted even when there's a pattern of offending.

People do give false details.
Or do you have a common name, that they have found a false match to someone with a similar name?

I would recommend responding saying you were not stopped, and supply evidence of your journey in the South West that day.

Thanks, I appreciate the help and advice as it seemed official and legitimate with all the personal details that had, but it is most likely someone gave my name out as it is common. And I can give evidence to show otherwise. Thanks!

 

[185]

Devils advocate.. Given the facts - the geographical locations, the only thought I have is that either someone in the TOCs investigations unit requested the wrong ticket number, or the ticketing agent supplied the wrong ticket details back to them.

No excuse but it's very easy to type in the 11 digit ticket number wrongly.

 

[kristiang85]

Devils advocate.. Given the facts - the geographical locations, the only thought I have is that either someone in the TOCs investigations unit requested the wrong ticket number, or the ticketing agent supplied the wrong ticket details back to them.

No excuse but it's very easy to type in the 11 digit ticket number wrongly.

They should pay a penalty plus £100 admin fee to the passenger for dealing with their mistake then