saturnkisses
Member
Hello everyone (again). I am posting to ask for help regarding an email my coworker received from WMR. Since she is a bit older I decided to post here for her, since the last time I posted about a similar issue I received lots of help. The email reads:
"Dear (Full Name)
We have recently been handed a file relating to an incident on September 2025. 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. It has been reported to the Digital Fraud Department for further investigation.
Further investigations into this matter have been carried out, including a full 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.
Please respond within the next 7 days from the date of this letter to avoid further escalation.
Kind regards,
Investigator"
The email is from the Digital Fraud Team. What allegedly happened was my coworker got caught at the barriers. Before she could scan to exit, an inspector approached her and scanned her 16-17 ticket and questioned her, asking for ID to prove that she is 17 (she very obviously is not). My coworker refused and said she'll just go and buy a new ticket, which she did, to get through the barriers. She was later pulled aside by another inspector, who asked why she was using a ticket with a 16-17 railcard, to which she replied that her daughter bought it for her and she doesn't know or understand anything. She was later let go and left the station. I assume she allegedly has been doing this for years since she has worked here longer than me. I am not sure if she has a Trainline account or they got her details from the bank section of Trainline.
I know since they have her name she can't avoid any charges. She is happy to settle and pay, but I wanted to see if she can get away with paying the least amount possible and what her next steps should be. Thank you all for your help once again.
"Dear (Full Name)
We have recently been handed a file relating to an incident on September 2025. 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. It has been reported to the Digital Fraud Department for further investigation.
Further investigations into this matter have been carried out, including a full 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.
Please respond within the next 7 days from the date of this letter to avoid further escalation.
Kind regards,
Investigator"
The email is from the Digital Fraud Team. What allegedly happened was my coworker got caught at the barriers. Before she could scan to exit, an inspector approached her and scanned her 16-17 ticket and questioned her, asking for ID to prove that she is 17 (she very obviously is not). My coworker refused and said she'll just go and buy a new ticket, which she did, to get through the barriers. She was later pulled aside by another inspector, who asked why she was using a ticket with a 16-17 railcard, to which she replied that her daughter bought it for her and she doesn't know or understand anything. She was later let go and left the station. I assume she allegedly has been doing this for years since she has worked here longer than me. I am not sure if she has a Trainline account or they got her details from the bank section of Trainline.
I know since they have her name she can't avoid any charges. She is happy to settle and pay, but I wanted to see if she can get away with paying the least amount possible and what her next steps should be. Thank you all for your help once again.
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