Tech misuse on track: AI-generated fake rail tickets caught in Jammu division

In a telling sign of how technology is being misused alongside its benefits, railway authorities in the Jammu Division have detected four cases of fake Unreserved Ticketing System (UTS) tickets generated using Artificial Intelligence (AI) during a special campaign from 15 December to 21 December.

The AI-crafted tickets, aimed at bypassing Indian Railways’ paperless ticketing safeguards, were swiftly identified, and appropriate penalties were imposed on the offenders, said Senior Divisional Commercial Manager, Uchit Singhal, here on Monday.

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A UTS ticket is an Unreserved Ticketing System ticket from Indian Railways, allowing passengers to buy general, non-reserved train tickets via mobile app (UTS on Mobile) or self-service machines, offering paperless options for daily commutes and avoiding physical counters.

Recently, a case of a fake ticket created using the misuse of Artificial Intelligence (AI) was detected in the Jaipur Division of North Western Railway. Following this, a campaign was launched in the Jammu Division.

Under this campaign, more than 2200 (UTS) unreserved tickets were checked across all railway stations in the Jammu division. Unique ID numbers and QR code scanning were used to detect fake tickets. During this period, four cases of fake UTS unreserved tickets created with the help of Artificial Intelligence (AI) were detected, Singhal added.

He said this step has been taken to prevent digital fraud and ensure a uniform and safe travel experience for all passengers.
It is also a way to curb unauthorized ticket agents from misusing the AI technology for their own benefit. Similar campaigns will be conducted in the division in the future as well, he said.

Singhal urged the passengers not to tamper with tickets using Artificial Intelligence or any other digital means, as this is a punishable offense. Strict action will be taken against those caught, he warned.