IRCTC Cautions Passengers Against Fake Ticket Agents; How To Check If Your Booking Is Genuine

With the festive season approaching, train ticket demand is at its peak and thousands of passengers are scrambling to secure confirmed seats. Amid the rush, some travellers may fall victim to fake agents

claiming to help with bookings. To protect passengers, the Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) has issued a warning about fraudulent agents misusing personal accounts to book and sell tickets illegally.

IRCTC has reminded passengers that only authorised agents are permitted to book tickets on behalf of others. It also shared simple methods to verify whether a ticket has been booked by a genuine agent. The goal is to help travellers stay vigilant and avoid falling victim to scams during the busy holiday season.

How To Identify If Your Ticket Is Genuine

When booking a ticket through an authorised IRCTC agent, the agent’s name, address, and agency code will be clearly displayed on the first page of the ticket. If any of this information is missing, it is likely that the ticket was booked by an unauthorised person.

You can also check for a label on the ticket that says “Normal User.” This indicates the booking was made using a personal IRCTC ID, which agents are not permitted to use for customers. IRCTC has emphasised that using personal IDs to sell tickets is against the rules and considered illegal.

Additionally, authorised agents are not permitted to book Tatkal tickets for the first 30 minutes after the quota opens, or Advance Reservation Period (ARP) tickets in the first 10 minutes. If your booking was made during these restricted times, it is another sign that the person may not be a registered agent.

Always Book Through Official Platforms

IRCTC advises passengers to always book tickets directly through the official IRCTC website (https://www.irctc.co.in/nget/train-search) or the IRCTC Rail Connect mobile app. These are the safest and most reliable ways to get genuine tickets.

If you prefer using an agent, make sure they are officially registered with IRCTC. You can verify this by checking the list of registered agents available on the IRCTC website. The organisation has warned that anyone using a personal ID to sell tickets at inflated rates is committing fraud and could face strict legal action.

IRCTC also added that passengers who buy tickets from such unauthorised sources risk losing money if their tickets are cancelled or found invalid. By following the official process and checking details carefully, travellers can ensure a safe and hassle-free booking experience.