Fraudster jailed for train ticket payout scam

A SERIAL fraudster who scammed £40,000 from nine train companies through delay compensation schemes has been jailed for two years.

Thomas William Ingram, 34, from Blackpool, Lancashire, produced and printed hundreds of fake tickets and then submitted hundreds of claims nationwide using more than 40 aliases and false addresses.

The reimbursements for rail journeys he never made allowed him to fund multiple trips to Las Vegas, British Transport Police (BTP) said.

Ingram targeted rail firms from 2013 to 2018 before its financial investigators managed to trace the fraudulent payouts that were either transferred into his four personal bank accounts or alias PayPal accounts, BTP officials added.

He firstly targeted the chargeback method to pay for rail travel using an account that contained no cash and then in 2016 he turned to using the delay repay compensation scheme.

He was arrested and a search of his home found £7,300 in cash, along with a number of printers, laptops and other items used in the commission of the offences.

Ingram was sentenced at Preston Crown Court after he pleaded guilty to nine counts of fraud.

BTP financial investigator Gary Francis said: “The delay repay scheme makes it easier for passengers to claim compensation when their journey is delayed.

“Unfortunately, Ingram targeted the scheme over a five-year period to fund his lifestyle, which included multiple trips to Las Vegas.

“This case is testament to the partnership working between BTP and train operating companies, and serves as a warning to others that this type of fraudulent activity will be treated seriously and result in prosecution.”