[Melb] Age: "Dozens charged over train ticket scam"

["Daniel Bowen" <dbowen@#DELETE#custard.net.au>]

http://www.theage.com.au/breaking/0001/10/A16618-2000Jan10.shtml

Dozens charged over train ticket scam

Source: AAP | Published: Monday January 10, 11:51 AM

Dozens of people have been charged over a ticket machine scam at Melbourne
train stations, police said today.

Chief Superintendent Ewen Cunningham, from Transit Safety Division, said
'small amounts' of money had been taken from the machines by 'manipulation'
with a bank note.

The note enabled the 'blatant and brazen' offender to get a ticket, some
change and the original note back, he said.

The machines were shutting down once the manipulation had been recorded and
an alarm had been set off inside the machine.

"A substantial number of offenders have been arrested and charged with
multiple offences of thieving from the ticket machines," Cunningham said.

Details of how to cheat the machines were also believed to be available on
the Internet, he said.

"As soon as that is identified we will take the necessary steps to close it
down," he said.

"There's an identification on the site that suggests that if you send the
money they will give you the information on how to work this scam."

The matter was being addressed in cooperation with Onelink, which owns the
machines, and the operators of the trains, Bayside and Hillside.

"The machines will be redesigned so the manipulation cannot take place and
it will not provide mechanisms by which this sort of theft can take place,'
Cunningham said.


--
Daniel Bowen, Melbourne, Australia
dbowen at custard dot net dot au