Quit while you're ahead:- 'Modern day fare dodgers' are leaving a trail of digital breadcrumbs

NORTHERN has warned so called:- 'modern day fare dodgers' on its network they are leaving a trail of digital breadcrumbs for their investigators to follow.

The term refers to people who do buy a ticket for travel but then fraudulently attempt to claim their money back after their journey. Likewise, customers who only buy tickets for part of their journey or for those Stations with ticket gatelines in place. But with 67% of tickets for Northern services now bought via digital platforms, their Digital Fraud Investigations Team is able to look into the circumstances of attempted fare evasion in much more detail.

Mark Powles, commercial and customer director at Northern, said:- "The old School fare evader still exists, but there's a new generation who try to outsmart the system through a complex process of fraudulent refund requests, delay repay claims and a process known as:- 'short faring.' What these individuals might not realise is that, as with any electronic transaction, our systems are able to identify suspicious activity and bring it to the attention of our specialist investigators."

The Digital Fraud Investigations Team was established in 2021 in response to the surge in digital ticketing post-Pandemic. They form part of Northern's Debt Recovery and Prosecutions Unit which, in the 2022/23 financial year, investigated 108,681 reports of attempted fare evasion, issued 53,344 Penalty Fare Notices, attended 301 court sittings, helped secure 14,072 convictions and recouped £2.9m (£2,851,883) of lost revenue for the taxpayer.

Powles added:- "Once our investigators are on the case, they can review all ticket transactions by that individual over several years and build a case if they believe there is a pattern of criminal behaviour. 1 fraudulent claim today might uncover a backlog of similar activity that our team will pursue. Our message to those people is:- 'quit while you're ahead.'"

Members of the Digital Fraud Investigations Team have backgrounds in the legal profession and statistical analysis.

Northern has invested in the largest network of digital ticket infrastructure of any train operator in the country, making it easier than ever to buy a ticket via their:- app, website or 1 of more than 600 ticket machines across the network.

Fare evaders are prosecuted under the provisions of the Regulation of Railways Act 1889 and the Railway Byelaws made pursuant to the Transport Act 2000. In cases of ticket fraud, perpetrators are prosecuted under the Fraud Act 2006.
 

Military charity steps in to help Liverpool veteran - "Without the help of SSAFA, we'd have been on the streets."

EXEMPLIFYING the work SSAFA, the Armed Forces does with all sectors of the military community comes a recent story from the Merseyside branch and the support it gave to a Veteran in the Criminal Justice System (VCJS).

Tom Kingsman was serving the last few weeks of his sentence in North Wales, and had disclosed to staff there, including his Probation Officer, that he was a veteran of UK Armed Forces.

SSAFA has a network of in-reach volunteers for VCJS, volunteers who provide advice and information, not only to those in custody, on probation or in the community, but also to their families.

The support offered is non-judgemental and holistic and includes:-

• Practical and emotional support.
   

• Signposting to services.
   

• Financial support.
   

• Family support.
   

• Travel assistance.
   

• Accommodation.

The SSAFA Merseyside VCJS caseworker Mark Rahaman met with Tom in prison. Here, Mark was told that Tom's rented home in Liverpool was due to be re-possessed because of arrears, and he and his son would be homeless.

Mark takes up the story, saying:- "The rent arrears where considerable, just shy of £4,500. It's best not to think about the effect that this would have had on Tom, and of course his son, and this is where SSAFA stepped in. SSAFA's VCJS support service is committed to giving veterans and their families a service that delivers, and our aim is to ensure that we offer a recognised; and all credit to the probation officer who knew about us; and consistent service nationwide while meeting our 5 strategic objectives, which are: effective support, awareness and understanding, sustainable use of resources, and collaborative working."

Mark explained that after he investigated the details of Tom's case, it was submitted for consideration to his regimental association, as well as other military charities. Mark added:- "It was a good result for Tom. As the association and charities offered the required assistance to clear the total rent arrears as well as granting some funds for clothing. This got Tom and his son out of a bad financial place, and hopefully gives Tom a good chance to start his life over again now he's back on the outside."

Tom added:- "Without the help of SSAFA my son and I would've been on the streets, we'd also have lost all are possessions as we would not have had a place to store anything not to mention the cost. Mark Rahaman and his colleagues have really helped a veteran in need, I never realised the help is out there, Thank God I spoke to someone about my problem, and they put me in touch with Mark who then spent a lot of time on my behalf to help me keep my flat. Thank you so much SSAFA and all the brilliant work your volunteers do and continue to do for us veterans."

For more information about SSAFA's VCJS support service, visit:- SAFA.Org.UK.  For more information on local help in the Liverpool area, visit:- SAFA.Org.UK.