Srinagar, June 5 -- Srinagar-Booking a train ticket the moment IRCTC opens the window has long felt like a race against time-often ending in disappointment. Now, Indian Railways has revealed why. Between January and May 2025, over 2.9 lakh ticket bookings made within minutes of the booking window opening were flagged as fraudulent, part of a massive scam involving automated bots and fake user accounts.

In a major crackdown, Indian Railways deactivated 2.5 crore fake user IDs and flagged another 20 lakh for re-verification. These accounts were largely created using disposable emails, enabling scammers to book bulk tickets within seconds, leaving genuine passengers frustrated.

In a landmark move to enhance transparency, security, and user...