There is currently a con artist on the Wels Linien buses posing as a ticket inspector. If the fraudster encounters a passenger without a valid ticket, he demands the increased fare of 80 euros in cash.
Wels Line Operations Manager Martin Hüttner explains how to tell the real from the fake inspectors. “Our employees always show their service ID without being asked and issue a payment slip. We never ask for cash payments.”
The description of the trickster is still rather poor: It is a man between 30 and 35 with a somewhat corpulent physique and an Austrian accent. The bus drivers and the real controllers have been looking out for the man since it became known, so far without success.
The man was discovered by a long-time passenger who then drew the attention of a security employee he knew and gave a description: “The person knew that it couldn’t be one of our controllers because our people always appear in pairs on the buses. She was also able to describe the perpetrator well,” says Hüttner.
The line catfish operations manager cannot say whether the thief he is looking for is the same man who stole the money from another fare dodger in October: “Unfortunately, we were informed much too late at the time. This time it came Info very timely.”
Dodgers usually react stressed to controllers: “Anyone who is caught doing fare evasion does not show their ID. You’re under too much adrenaline,” says Hüttner.
1565 dodgers per year
In the previous year, the inspectors of the Wels line issued 1,565 penalties for fare evasion. Anyone who pays the fine within three days pays 80 euros. If you miss the deadline, you have to transfer 95 euros to the bus company. “We can’t collect 50 percent of the fines because the people are either destitute or because they’re students who forgot their ID.” If the valid student ID card is handed in later, the catfish lines respond obligingly.
If a passenger catches the trickster they are looking for in the act, it is advisable to notify the bus driver immediately or contact the Wels line immediately on 07242/44212.
Source: Nachrichten
