NCJ Number
66262
Date Published
1978
Length
19 pages
Annotation
THE THEFT, MANIPULATION, AND FRAUDULENT USE OF AIRLINE TICKETS HAVE INCREASED CONSIDERABLY IN THE PAST 15 YEARS (SINCE 1957); INTERNATIONAL CONTROLS TO PREVENT THESE CRIMES ARE NEEDED.
Abstract
ONE OF THE PRINCIPAL EXPOSURES TO LOSS OF REVENUE OCCURS AS RESULT OF TICKET THEFT. TICKETS ARE STOLEN FROM THE TRAVEL AGENT'S OFFICE, FROM AIRLINE PREMISES, AND WHILE IN TRANSIT FROM AN AIRLINE OFFICE OR TICKET PRINTING PLANT. IN MARCH 1978, A PARIS TRAVEL AGENCY OFFICE WAS ROBBED OF 2,143 TICKETS, THE PROPERTY OF 13 DIFFERENT AIRLINES. SINCE STOLEN TICKETS MUST BE VALIDATED, VALIDATION EQUIPMENT IS OFTEN STOLEN ALONG WITH THE TICKETS. OCCASIONALLY, ATTEMPTS ARE MADE TO NEGOTIATE THE RETURN OF STOLEN AIRLINE TICKETS AGAINST PAYMENT OF A RANSOM, ALTHOUGH THE MAJORITY OF CARRIERS REFUSE TO PAY THE RANSOM. TICKETS HAVE ALSO BEEN SUBJECTED TO FORGERY AND 17 AIRLINES HAVE REPORTED THIS HAPPENING. TICKETS CAN BE ALTERED TO OBTAIN ADDITIONAL TRAVEL, AND OFTEN ARE USED TO OBTAIN HARD CURRENCY. SOME TRAVEL AGENTS SELL AIRLINE TICKET STOCKS AT LOW FARES AND THEN DISAPPEAR WITH THE REVENUE. THE TOTALS OF TICKETS LISTED IN THE INDUSTRY'S 'LOSS PREVENTION BULLETIN' ARE LARGE. RECENTLY THE BULLETIN LISTED 303,386 TICKETS MISSING FROM 90 DIFFERENT COMPANIES. EFFORTS TO REDUCE REVENUE LOSS ARE BEING CONCENTRATED IN A NUMBER OF AREAS, SUCH AS TICKET VALIDATION ONLY BY A METAL OR PLASTIC DIE OR STAMP, INCORPORATING FORGERY PROTECTION INTO TICKETS WHEN THEY ARE PRINTED, WORLDWIDE CIRCULATION OF STOLEN OR MISSING TICKET INFORMATION THROUGH ELECTRONIC MEANS, AND THE ESTABLISHMENT OF AN INFORMATION DATA BANK. OTHER MEASURES INCLUDE BETTER SECURITY IN OFFICES WHICH STOCK TICKETS, MONITORING OF SECURITY STANDARDS WITHIN TRAVEL AGENCIES, COLLECTION AND DISSEMINATION OF INTELLIGENCE ABOUT THEFT AND FRAUD, AND COOPERATION BETWEEN AIRLINE COMPANIES AND THE INTERNATIONAL POLICE. (MJW)