How gangs use 'Brahmos', 'Tesla' & 'Avengers' to scoop up train tickets, Pg1.

Key Highlights:

• Inter-state gangs are using software like 'Brahmos', 'Tesla', and 'Avengers' to quickly book train tickets online, exploiting the system in approximately 15 seconds.
• The Railway Protection Force (RPF) is cracking down on these gangs, which include developers, online admins, "super sellers," and touts.
• These "super sellers" provide access to these software systems for Rs 1,500-Rs 2,500 per month, while advanced software like 'Brahmos' charges Rs 99 per PNR.
• The RPF has registered 10 cases this year and 25-30 cases last year related to illegal ticket bookings, arresting nearly 50 people.

Detailed Insights:

• These software hacks bypass security measures like OTP verification and Captcha codes, which are designed to prevent automated booking.
• Touts exploit the system to sell tickets at inflated prices, such as a sleeper PNR costing Rs 800 being sold for Rs 2,000, with prices increasing during festive seasons.
• The railways are implementing measures like delaying payments for 35 seconds after booking opens and requiring Aadhaar-verified IDs to combat the illegal booking.
• The demand for Aadhaar IDs in the black market has increased, with prices rising from Rs 30 to Rs 500 due to the mandatory verification for booking.

Key Concepts Involved:

• PNR (Passenger Name Record): A digital record containing the details of a passenger's journey when booking a flight, train, or bus.
• OTP (One-Time Password): An automatically generated numeric or alphanumeric string of characters that authenticates the user for a single transaction or login session.
• Aadhaar: A 12-digit individual identification number issued by the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI).