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Caught commiting Railcard fraud

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Lion

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I am using my Friend Railcard Screenshot and changed to my name, and being caught
I am holding a student visa, I was really scared about that, the staff take the picture of my fake Railcard, and say will being reported. But i didn't provide any information to him, because I don't have any License for him in that time. I am worry about will I have a criminal record for it, I am really sorry for using a fake railcard, so what should I do now
 
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John R

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What do you mean, you didn’t provide any information to him? Did you provide your correct name and address?

Where exactly were you stopped, and do you know which train company they worked for? And did they give you any documentation - if so it would be helpful if you could attach it, but do make sure you hide any personal details or reference number.

Also, how did you buy the ticket for that journey? Was it on the Trainline or another online account, or was it at a station? Did the inspector take any details of your online account.

Note that we are not able to give any advice in relation to the consequences of any action in your ability to remain in this country under the terms of your student visa.
 

Lion

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I was being caught in the train , and I am not sure which company he is. When I get caught, he asked me to provide passport or any Address certificate,but on that time , I don’t have any to provide , so he only take the picture of my friend railcard . But on that railcard , I changed my name and my picture.
But after that , he didn’t give me documents. And there was another friend help me to buy my ticket( not the one who I use his railcard)
 

WesternLancer

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I am using my Friend Railcard Screenshot and changed to my name, and being caught
I am holding a student visa, I was really scared about that, the staff take the picture of my fake Railcard, and say will being reported. But i didn't provide any information to him, because I don't have any License for him in that time. I am worry about will I have a criminal record for it, I am really sorry for using a fake railcard, so what should I do now
Hi - you will need to take the consequences of this very seriously, given this is not a low level ticket mistake but a deliberate attempt to evade fares by making a fake railcard (not a wise way of saving the £30 cost of a genuine Railcard).

It will help people tell you what to expect if you can answer the questions in post #2

As you are a student I would advise you to also go and get some confidential advice from your student union or university welfare advice office who may be able to help you with the consequences of this. You should contact them to see if they can help as soon as possible. Your international student office may be able to tell you where the best place in the university to get confidential advice from is.
 
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John R

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I was being caught in the train , and I am not sure which company he is.
Look, we are trying to help you here, but you are not making this easy. Yes, you were on a train, but that could be anywhere in the country. What train were you on, going from where to where? Can you remember what time it departed and arrived?
 

Mcr Warrior

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@Lion. Welcome to the forum. Be good if you could have a look at this general information and guidance thread...

 

WesternLancer

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I was being caught in the train , and I am not sure which company he is. When I get caught, he asked me to provide passport or any Address certificate,but on that time , I don’t have any to provide , so he only take the picture of my friend railcard . But on that railcard , I changed my name and my picture.
But after that , he didn’t give me documents. And there was another friend help me to buy my ticket( not the one who I use his railcard)
also were you asked to give a name and address, and did you give your correct name and address to the member of railway staff?

The reason they took a photo of your friend's railcard is to ensure they have got the proof of you using a wrong or forged Railcard.

You need to answer the questions @Brissle Girl is asking so people can best advise you

or read this and answer these questions listed as best you can:

 

Lion

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Nottingham
also were you asked to give a name and address, and did you give your correct name and address to the member of railway staff?

The reason they took a photo of your friend's railcard is to ensure they have got the proof of you using a wrong or forged Railcard.

You need to answer the questions @Brissle Girl is asking so people can best advise you

or read this and answer these questions listed as best you can:

I didn’t provide any information of me , he just take the picture of my fake railcard but on the railcard , it has my name and photo only
 

Lion

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Location
Nottingham
Look, we are trying to help you here, but you are not making this easy. Yes, you were on a train, but that could be anywhere in the country. What train were you on, going from where to where? Can you remember what time it departed and arrived?
In UK
 

WesternLancer

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I do not wish to sound rude but people can not help you if you do not give the basic answers to simple questions you are being asked.

You asked what you should do now in your original post. To advise you what you should do now you need to give some more information

These questions are:

1) The stations where you started & finished your journey;
2) The stations where you changed trains (if applicable);
3) If you presented a ticket(s), the information stated under "Ticket type", "From", "To", "Route", and any other relevant details;
4) Uploading copies of any paperwork (with personal details redacted) with your post, that you may have been given or received to date.
5) which part of the journey did the staff member photograph your railcard / speak to you (do you remember what station it may have happened after for example, especially fi you changed trains on your route)

If you want to know what will happen next it will likely be along the following lines:

A) the railway company will write to you about the forged railcard and threaten you with taking you to court and prosecuting you
B) the letter they will write will ask if you have any explanation for what you did or mitigating circumstances - it is vital that you get this letter and reply to it
C) The railway company will consider your reply and decide what to do next
D) They will look at all of your ticket buying on line from wherever you bought tickets and they will notice any other tickets bought with a Railcard discount and they will presume these were all bought with the forged Railcard - they will want all the money for those journeys
E) They may take you to court and prosecute you for which you will receive a fine, costs and other sums, as well as a criminal record.
or
F) they may decide not to take you to court if you pay them a sum of money to put right what you have done wrong and the fares you have avoided. This is usually called an 'out of court settlement' - this is a better outcome for you than being taken to court, and would be the one that I suspect you should seek to achieve if you can do that.

If you do not want to provide any further information here that is up to you. You can see if you can discuss it with your university / college / student union to see if they can help, or you could go to see if a solicitor / lawyer can help, for which you will probably also have to pay a fee to the solicitor for their time and any work they do to help you.
 
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Mcr Warrior

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@Lion. If you'd prefer not to provide the requested details on here, perhaps you should now instead consider seeking out specialist legal advice and/or the services of a qualified immigration adviser. Good luck!
 

WesternLancer

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I didn’t provide any information of me , he just take the picture of my fake railcard but on the railcard , it has my name and photo only
I note you have added to this post - they may be able to trace you via the bank card that you used to buy the ticket with. If they scanned the ticket with a reader that can obtain that information. You will probably have to wait and see if they write to you about this.
 

SuspectUsual

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It’s surely also very highly likely that the true owner of the railcard will have been identified, assuming the OP only changed the name and photo? (I assume there’s a unique serial number on it?)

If so will they be likely to be hearing from the train company too?
 

Lion

Member
Joined
11 Feb 2024
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Location
Nottingham
I note you have added to this post - they may be able to trace you via the bank card that you used to buy the ticket with. If they scanned the ticket with a reader that can obtain that information. You will probably have to wait and see if they write to you about this.
Yeah , but the problem is that I ask my another friend to help me buy the ticket

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: ==

It’s surely also very highly likely that the true owner of the railcard will have been identified, assuming the OP only changed the name and photo? (I assume there’s a unique serial number on it?)

If so will they be likely to be hearing from the train company too?
It’s surely also very highly likely that the true owner of the railcard will have been identified, assuming the OP only changed the name and photo? (I assume there’s a unique serial number on it?)

If so will they be likely to be hearing from the train company too?
I am worry that they send the letter to my friend? But my friend not in UK in these few months, so that I won't receive the letter or punishment from the train company, and it will make the problem more serious
 

Tevion539

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Yeah , but the problem is that I ask my another friend to help me buy the ticket

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: ==



I am worry that they send the letter to my friend? But my friend not in UK in these few months, so that I won't receive the letter or punishment from the train company, and it will make the problem more serious
You're still failing to answer people's questions - if you want help people will need to know when it happened. Where it happened. Where you were travelling to and from.
 

MotCO

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I sense deliberately defacing a railcard to obtain an advantage could be worse than the usual Bylaw or RORA offences of travelling without a valid ticket - could it be classified as fraud?

In which case, legal advice may need to be sought once you receive the letter.
 

Cowley

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Ok. I think we’ll put a temporary hold on this until we can establish a few more details.

Thanks everyone
 
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