A disturbing digital scam is spreading across Mumbai’s suburban rail network — passengers faking mobile train tickets by editing screenshots to dodge fares, particularly on premium AC locals and express trains. Over the past two years, the scam has evolved from crudely doctored photo passes to sophisticated fake UTS (Unreserved Ticketing System) app screens and forged QR codes, exposing how fraudsters are exploiting mobile technology to ride for free.
Senior Commercial Ticket Clerk Saiprasad Vijay Sawant (second from right) and his team with one of the accused (third from right). Pic/By Special Arrangement
What began in mid-2023 with passengers using editing apps to alter season passes has now turned into a web of forged monthly passes, fake IDs, and bogus railway duty passes. By July 2025, Western Railway ticket inspectors had detected the first case of an edited UTS ticket screenshot, confirming a growing trend. Recent checks in October and November 2025 have found multiple passengers travelling on digitally forged UTS entries — tickets that look genuine but fail instant verification on ticket checkers’ handheld terminals.
Fake UTS ticket on AC local
In the latest incident on Tuesday evening, a vigilant ticket checker exposed a passenger travelling with a forged mobile ticket on the AC Virar Slow Local. According to officials, Senior Commercial Ticket Clerk Saiprasad Vijay Sawant was checking tickets around 7.36 pm near Naigaon station when a commuter produced what appeared to be a valid ticket generated through the UTS app. However, Sawant noticed discrepancies in the QR code and ticket number. A real-time check on his handheld verification device confirmed that the ticket did not exist in the system.
Jaswinder Kaur and Harpreet Kaur
“The passenger had edited a screenshot to make it look genuine,” Sawant told mid-day. “He was immediately booked for travelling without a valid ticket under the Railways Act, and an FIR was filed at Vasai police station.” Officials said the case highlights the growing use of mobile editing tools in digital ticket forgery. Western Railway has since intensified on-train verification for all UTS-based tickets.
Frauds detected on Western Railway (2023–2025)
June 12, 2023 – AC Local
Staff: Jill Shinto & Snehal Palekar
Fraud: Passenger altered pass visuals using video-editing software.
Loss: `45,000; created 11 fake passes| Action: FIR lodged; arrest made.
Jan 3, 2024 – Local Train
Staff: Jaswinder Kaur & Harpreet Kaur
Fraud: Passenger used fake monthly season ticket.
Action: Prosecution registered at Mumbai Central.
Apr 28, 2024 – Jogeshwari-Andheri Local
Staff: Harpreet Kaur Kamath
Fraud: Passenger posed as railway employee using forged ID and duty pass.
Action: FIR registered; case handed to GRP Andheri.
Apr 3, 2025 – Tejas Express (12954)
Staff: Sandesh V Salunke
Fraud: Two passengers used
fake duty passes and Aadhaar cards.
Action: Case transferred to Kota RPF.
Jul 18, 2025 – AC Local
Staff: Rajeshwari Pandey & Jill Shinto
Fraud: First recorded fake UTS screenshot case.
Action: Passenger fined; report filed under UTS fraud.
Jul 20, 2025 – Mumbai Division
Staff: Dy. CTI Shyam Kishore Prasad
Fraud: Man impersonated railway staff with fake ID.
Action: Handed to RPF for investigation.
Oct 1, 2025 – AC Local
(Virar–Churchgate)
Staff: Pradeep Kumar & Avinash Stikhure
Fraud: Forged UTS ticket; validity mismatch on CRIS server.
Action: Passenger deboarded, fined, FIR No. 0938/25.
Nov 11, 2025 – AC Virar Local
Staff: Saiprasad V Sawant
Fraud: Forged UTS screenshot (Invalid No. XQDDDP02D).
Action: Passenger booked, fined, FIR filed.
