Deutschlandticket scams on the rise, warn German transport associations

A widespread scamming system has developed in Germany around the country’s nationwide transport pass, the Deutschlandticket. Now, transport associations are calling on the government to do more to shut down scams.

Deutschlandticket tricksters steal bank details to sell tickets

According to a new report from SPIEGEL, scammers in Germany are stealing or falsifying bank details and using the information to buy legitimate Deutschlandticket subscriptions. 

The scammers then sell these legitimate Deutschlandtickets on untrustworthy, fake websites, such as “deutschlandticket.website”. The legitimate tickets are then sold at a “reduced price” to entice unsuspecting customers.

While the tickets are sold on, with scammers pocketing their resale money, those who had their bank details stolen often cancel the direct debit mandate set up by scammers. This results in huge financial losses for transport associations. 

In the Rhine-Main region in spring 2024, these fraudulent tickets made up 12 percent of Deutschlandticket subscriptions, resulting in a seven-figure loss.

Coalition must do more to shut down Deutschlandticket scams

According to SPIEGEL, ticket controllers regularly come across ticket duplicates or fraudulent tickets. Transport associations are now calling on the new CDU/CDU-SPD coalition government to be more proactive in shutting down scam systems. 

The government should “motivate prosecuting authorities to take the topic seriously,” Martin Schenck of the Munich Transport Association (MVV) told the German newspaper.

“When the wave of scams first began, evidence given by companies and associations that filed complaints [about possible scams] was not followed up,” Schenck explained.

Because of the scams, controllers in certain cities and regions, including Munich, are more regularly asking passengers to show their ID card alongside their Deutschlandticket.

In response, representatives from the local transport associations and the Association of German Transport Companies (VDV) urged that Germany should adopt “unified standards for the digital issuance and control” of Deutschlandtickets.