Tatkal Ticket Booking: Scammers Have New Tricks Despite New Rules. Will Tickets Disappear in an Instant Again?

WBPAY3 weeks agoLast Updated: July 7, 2025

Tatkal Ticket Booking: The rules for booking Tatkal tickets have been recently updated, but new fraudulent schemes have emerged right alongside them. Although Indian Railways has modified the rules for the convenience of passengers, a network of unscrupulous individuals has found new ways to exploit the system and cheat the general public. In this post, we will discuss the new regulations in detail and how you can protect yourself from such scams.

Table of Contents

New Tatkal Ticket Rules

Based on passenger complaints, the Ministry of Railways has introduced new rules to bring transparency to the Tatkal ticket booking system, effective from July 1st. The main objective of these rules is to make the booking process simpler and more secure.

Aadhaar Card Mandatory: Providing your Aadhaar card number is now compulsory for booking Tatkal tickets. Passengers must enter their Aadhaar number when booking online through the IRCTC website or app.
Restrictions for Agents: According to the new rule, ticket agents are barred from booking tickets for the first 30 minutes after the Tatkal window opens. This period is reserved exclusively for general passengers.
Booking Timings: As before, Tatkal booking for AC classes will begin at 10:00 AM, and for non-AC classes at 11:00 AM, on the day before the journey.

The primary goal of these changes was to address common passenger grievances, such as tickets selling out instantly or server failures during the booking process.

The Trap of New Frauds

With the introduction of new rules, fraudsters have also become active. They are attempting to deceive ordinary passengers in various ways.

Sale of Aadhaar IDs: Several groups have surfaced on platforms like WhatsApp and Telegram, where Aadhaar IDs are being sold for a price. These IDs are used to bypass the personal Aadhaar verification process on the IRCTC website. More than 40 such groups have already been identified.
Sale of Verified IRCTC Accounts: Verified IRCTC accounts are being sold for approximately ₹360. This allows buyers to book tickets without creating a new ID.
“Fast Tatkal Booking” Software: A new software featuring a “bot” has entered the market. This software automatically fills in all necessary details on the Tatkal booking website, including the passenger’s name, destination, and Aadhaar ID. The user only needs to make the payment.

Warning and Advice

These fraudulent methods are entirely illegal, and using them can lead to severe penalties. The Railway Protection Force (RPF) is keeping a close watch on such activities and taking strict action against the culprits.

Passengers are strongly advised to book Tatkal tickets only through the official IRCTC website or mobile app. It is wise to avoid using any third-party software or agents. This will keep your personal information secure and save you from falling victim to fraud.