Photoshopped ticket with valid barcode- Will it come up on the scan?

[Dd678]

Hi all

Long story but one of my friends bought a ticket from Bham New Street to London Euston but accidentally bought it with a railcard and then only realised later on and when all the tickets had been sold out, and then got me to photoshop out the bit where it says which railcard he has. I know the hazardous affects of this but he desperately needs to go at that time.
I’m just wondering if the barcode gets scanned by the train conductor, will he know that the original ticket had a railcard?

 

[skyhigh]

Hi all

Long story but one of my friends bought a ticket from Bham New Street to London Euston but accidentally bought it with a railcard and then only realised later on and when all the tickets had been sold out, and then got me to photoshop out the bit where it says which railcard he has. I know the hazardous affects of this but he desperately needs to go at that time.
I’m just wondering if the barcode gets scanned by the train conductor, will he know that the original ticket had a railcard?

Yes, they will. It'll be taken very seriously too, as it's fraudulently altering the ticket. Contact whichever company you bought the ticket off that you don't have a railcard and ask to pay the difference, or if able to buy the railcard that's on the ticket. Do not try travelling with a photoshopped ticket.

 

[221129]

I’m just wondering if the barcode gets scanned by the train conductor, will he know that the original ticket had a railcard?

Yes. And if found out will likely result in a prosecution. For both of you.

 

[172007]

Obtaining services by deception, so fraud charge I imagine. Career limiting potentialy in a few lines of work.

 

[Darandio]

It's also not beyond the realms of possibility that they have seen this thread as well.

 

[maniacmartin]

Does your friend qualify for the railcard in question? If so they could just buy a railcard. You can do it through an app or at the station with a passport photo

 

[Bevan Price]

He should bin it (or refund it less £10 if not an Advance) and buy a walk-up ticket on the day. Avanti (unlike LNER) are making provision for walk-ups.

If he uses it there is a very high chance of being caught and prosecuted, leaving him with a career limiting criminal record.

And maybe even a compulsory "holiday" in one of Her Majesty's establishments. Fraud is taken very seriously.

 

[Journeyman]

Hi all

Long story but one of my friends bought a ticket from Bham New Street to London Euston but accidentally bought it with a railcard and then only realised later on and when all the tickets had been sold out, and then got me to photoshop out the bit where it says which railcard he has. I know the hazardous affects of this but he desperately needs to go at that time.
I’m just wondering if the barcode gets scanned by the train conductor, will he know that the original ticket had a railcard?

I'm familiar with the kit Avanti use for ticket scanning. It's very good indeed at picking out the details, and will immediately alert the staff to the fact that a railcard is required.

Don't even think about it.

 

[yorkie]

It should be possible to excess the ticket; I've been able to do that before.

If not, buy a new ticket from the same retailer, explain the situation and see if they will refund the original. Put the request in before the journey is made.

 

[Bletchleyite]

It should be possible to excess the ticket; I've been able to do that before.

If not, buy a new ticket from the same retailer, explain the situation and see if they will refund the original. Put the request in before the journey is made.

The reason I said to buy a walk up on the day is that the OP has said the train is showing as full and so another ticket cannot be purchased for that train.

 

[trentside]

Does your friend qualify for the railcard in question? If so they could just buy a railcard. You can do it through an app or at the station with a passport photo

I think this is the key question the OP needs to answer before we start talking about purchasing new walk up tickets.

I’ve had photoshopped tickets a few times. Yes it flags and yes it’s obvious especially when the origin and destination has been altered. I’ve also had a digitally altered railcard. These were all reported as irregularities for further investigation.

 

[HamworthyGoods]

I know the hazardous affects of this but he desperately needs to go at that time.

You clearly don’t know the hazardous effects of this as if you did you wouldn’t have photoshopped it in the first place.

This could be severely career limiting for both yourself and your friend including some time living in a gated community.

 

[LowLevel]

I've had several photoshopped or altered e-tickets and on each occasion having reported them several police officers have turned up to meet the unfortunate traveller. Apparently some criminal gangs have made a sideline in selling them online and the police are very interested in anything that may lead back to them.

 

[Peter Mugridge]

I've had several photoshopped or altered e-tickets and on each occasion having reported them several police officers have turned up to meet the unfortunate traveller. Apparently some criminal gangs have made a sideline in selling them online and the police are very interested in anything that may lead back to them.

...and here, on a forum which we know the authorities including the BTP read, we have someone saying openly that they Photoshopped a ticket...?

Even without the factors mentioned above about scanners and bar code readers, it would be a seriously bad idea to try to fake a ticket whether on Photoshop or otherwise. It'll be obvious to any experienced revenue staff that something is wrong even without a close examination.

The advice given earlier by someone to simply ditch that altered ticket and buy a fresh walk up ticket is the only safe course of action here for both parties.

 

[HamworthyGoods]

...and here, on a forum which we know the authorities including the BTP read, we have someone saying openly that they Photoshopped a ticket...?

Even without the factors mentioned above about scanners and bar code readers, it would be a seriously bad idea to try to fake a ticket whether on Photoshop or otherwise. It'll be obvious to any experienced revenue staff that something is wrong even without a close examination.

The advice given earlier by someone to simply ditch that altered ticket and buy a fresh walk up ticket is the only safe course of action here for both parties.

Indeed - I suspect however it is the last we will hear from the OP.

It’s a pity he didn’t give a few more details on the original post so the relevant revenue teams could have sprung into action!

 

[SargeNpton]

Indeed - I suspect however it is the last we will hear from the OP.

It’s a pity he didn’t give a few more details on the original post so the relevant revenue teams could have sprung into action!

Well, we know that they live in the West Midlands and that it's a Birmingham New Street to Euston journey.