New Delhi: In the festive season, when everyone prepares to go back to his/her hometown, the demand for train tickets starts to skyrocket. Amidst the huge demand for tickets, scores of people try to get confirmed train tickets at any cost. Cyber criminals are taking advantage of this situation to cheat in the name of fake ticket booking.

Cyber thugs claim through social media, WhatsApp groups or fake websites that they can get confirmed tickets even if there is no vacant berth in the train. The fraudsters gain confidence by calling themselves IRCTC agents or railway officers. After that, they collect advance money from the customers and either send fake e-tickets, or they disappear with the money.

Fake train ticket bookings are usually done in several ways. Some thugs trap travelers by creating fake websites that look like the original IRCTC website. These websites look very real, which deceive people. Many times swindlers share links on social media platforms or WhatsApp claiming to get a confirmed ticket.

Once you click on these links, people reach the fake booking page. In some cases, criminals send fake payment links to customers and transfer the money to their account in the name of confirming the booking. Many times swindlers send fake e-ticket PDFs or screenshots that look like real ones, which are not present in the railway system.

Travellers should always be vigilant to avoid such cheating. Train passengers should book tickets via the official website [www.irctc.co.in] (https://www.irctc.co.in) or the IRCTC mobile app. Do not trust on any unknown links on on social media. Check the URL of the website carefully. If it is different from [https://www.irctc.co.in](https://www.irctc.co.in”), it may be fake. Verify the validity of an individual or agent before making an advance payment. If there is any suspicion on any website or person, provide immediate information on the railway helpline or cyber crime helpline.

IRCTC has warned that some people are using fake or personal user IDs to book train tickets, which is completely illegal. IRCTC has advised travelers to remain alert and avoid dealing with such fake agents.

If you become a victim of cyber fraud, file a complaint immediately by visiting [www.cybercrime.gov.in] (https://www.cybercrime.gov.in) or call the National Cyber Helpline number 1930. Also, file a report at the nearest cyber station and inform your bank immediately so that transactions can be stopped.