Caught By Tfl

[Winterseasons]

I was recently (today) caught by a TfL officer in plain clothes on the underground. I was passing through behind someone (very stupid I know, I’m incredibly tight on money) he pulled my aside but didn’t ask for any details, no name or information. All I was asked to do was to tap a form of payment (I used my bank card) on his device and continue on my journey and to make sure to tap out at the end of my route.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 4 Aug 2026 ==

I was recently (today) caught by a TfL officer in plain clothes on the underground. I was passing through behind someone (very stupid I know, I’m incredibly tight on money) he pulled my aside but didn’t ask for any details, no name or information. All I was asked to do was to tap a form of payment (I used my bank card) on his device and continue on my journey and to make sure to tap out at the end of my route.

Apologies I clicked post without finishing. Does anyone know what may happen to me? Since I didn’t have to give any information over to them?

 

[SECR 65]

Welcome to the forum

Had you boarded a train (or tram/bus etc for that matter) already at the time you were stopped?

Did the Inspector ask you anything, or explain at all anything which might happen next?

Did the Inspector see you cheat through the barrier, or was it simply a spot-check revenue inspection further down the journey?

Were you issued with a penalty fare or any other paperwork?

 

[Winterseasons]

Hey, thank you

No I had just walked thought behind someone as I’d gotten into the station.

The inspector was very hard to hear as it was rush hour and the encounter only lasted 10 seconds roughly.

He watched my go throught behind someone else. He was in normal clothes.

No I wasn’t issued with anything on the spot. All I was asked to do was tap my payment card on his device he had with him.

 

[SECR 65]

Thanks for answering most of my questions!

Had you boarded a train at the time you were stopped? I'm guessing not? We'll need someone more expert that me to help know whether it's an offence to be within a TfL gateline without a valid ticket or not.

What station did this happen at? And which mode of transport were you using? Tube?

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 4 Aug 2026 ==

It could be that the inspector has effectively been nice, just charged you what you should have paid, and won't report you.

That said, they might be able to identify you based on the bank card you tapped on the inspector's device.

 

[SuspectUsual]

Were you starting or ending your journey? It’s hard to make that out from your first post

 

[Winterseasons]

No I hadn’t boarded a train when he stopped me. It was right next to the barriers where you tap in and out to get into the station.

It was as London Liverpool Street. I am obviously hoping that he was feeling incredibly nice and let me off lol but I guess I won’t know that until a letter arrives or it doesn’t.

Yeah that’s what I was curious about since I did use my bank card to pay

Thanks for answering most of my questions!

Had you boarded a train at the time you were stopped? I'm guessing not? We'll need someone more expert that me to help know whether it's an offence to be within a TfL gateline without a valid ticket or not.

What station did this happen at? And which mode of transport were you using? Tube?

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 4 Aug 2026 ==

It could be that the inspector has effectively been nice, just charged you what you should have paid, and won't report you.

That said, they might be able to identify you based on the bank card you tapped on the inspector's device.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 4 Aug 2026 ==

Were you starting or ending your journey? It’s hard to make that out from your first post

hey sorry. It was at the beginning of my journey

 

[soccermad]

Is there a possibility that this was a scam ?

 

[Winterseasons]

I don’t believe so no, the guy seems to have a TfL badge which he proceeded to show me

 

[SECR 65]

Are you able to look at your TfL journey history somehow? This might give us a bit of a lead as to what kind of tap the inspector's device was.

I'm not certain how you access journey history - I'm sure someone on here will know - but for me it will tell me on my Google Pay, or I think there's an app?

 

[gray1404]

If no details were taken and it was definitely a bank card that you tapped on his device then I think that will be the end of the matter.

You are lucky you were not using an Oyster card as the inspector would have been able to tell that you had not tapped in. Most likely they did not see enough detail and they were unsure if you had tapped in so decided to do a revenue check.

Hopefully you have NOT registered the card on the TfL website with personal details. As you have not tapped in at the start of your journey you likely will be charged be charged a maximum fare however.

 

[AlterEgo]

As your details weren't taken you will not be contacted. Lucky escape.

 

[kijeta]

I'm not certain how you access journey history - I'm sure someone on here will know

It's possible to view the very recent journey history, on contactless, without an account (https://contactless.tfl.gov.uk/HomePage/7DayHistory). You will have to submit personal information associated with the card - so do exercise caution.

 

[MikeWh]

Is there a possibility that this was a scam ?

Very unlikely, because ...

I don’t believe so no, the guy seems to have a TfL badge which he proceeded to show me

I'm sure that that is genuine then.

As your details weren't taken you will not be contacted. Lucky escape.

Yes and no.

Because you weren't touched in at the time you touched your card on the inspection device you will be charged a revenue inspection charge which I believe is £16.30. You may also be charged an exit charge when you touched out at the end of the journey. You won't be contacted again because you have already paid a penalty via the revenue inspection charge. If this happens again, be aware that the card will get blocked by TfL and you would then be liable for a full penalty fare, or even prosecution.

Registering your card on a TfL account will not change what happens now, and will not make prosecution more likely. It will enable you to see what has been charged. You may be able to apply for a refund of the exit charge by confirming both ends of the journey. You won't be able to get rid of the revenue inspection charge as it was properly issued.

 

[furlong]

I'd guess they were catching a lot of people and chose to deal with you quickly with the automated charge so they could get straight back to catching more people. In the time taken to write you up and interview you, how many more people might they have missed catching?

 

[Mawkie]

Is there a possibility that this was a scam ?

It's a popular Reddit theory that everyone that asks you to touch your card is a scammer. However, just for reassurance, Revenue (plain clothes or otherwise) will be signed in with the Station Supervisor, and gateline staff will be made aware of their presence. The chances of a scammer 'working' a gateline in this manner is practically zero. They would be noticed within a minute or two and challenged. I don't recall any mention of it ever happening in reality.

OP has had correct information from @MikeWh, so I'll leave it there.