Request ID: FOI-2996-2122 Date published: 29 April 2022
You asked
Under the Freedom of Information Act 2000, with reference to (FOI-3706-1920), I would like to update the data on a previous request. See queries below.
1. How many incidents involving payment card fraud (including contactless) have been recorded on the railway network owned/operated by, or branded by, TfL.
2. Then also, if recorded, please can you provide an average loss per incident per year and a total loss for each year
Please can figures for 2020 and 2021 calendar years. Also could it be broken into incidents of payment card fraud recorded via the following channels: Self-service ticket machines, Ticket Office ticket machines, Online and Contactless as in the previous FOI.
We answered
Our Ref: FOI-2996-2122
Thank you for your request received on 31 March 2022 asking for information about payment card fraud.
Your request has been considered in accordance with the requirements of the Freedom of Information Act and our information access policy. I can confirm we do hold the information you require.
We adopt a zero-tolerance approach to any fraud and have robust controls in place to prevent and detect it. Our team of 450 revenue inspectors operate across our network day and night to stop illegal activity. Working with the British Transport Police, we push for the strongest possible sentences for those who break the law.
You asked: 1. How many incidents involving payment card fraud (including contactless) have been recorded on the railway network owned/operated by, or branded by, TfL. 2. Then also, if recorded, please can you provide an average loss per incident per year and a total loss for each year Please can figures for 2020 and 2021 calendar years. Also could it be broken into incidents of payment card fraud recorded via the following channels: Self-service ticket machines, Ticket Office ticket machines, Online and Contactless as in the previous FOI. Please find the requested information in the table below:
Date Period
Self-service ticket machine incidents
Ticket office ticket machine incidents
Online incidents
Contactless incidents
Total incidents
01/01/2020 - 31/12/2020
1029 incidents Total value £74,881.99 Average loss per incident £72.77
7 incidents Total value196.60 Average loss per incident £28.08
497 incidents Total value £15,336.82 Average loss per incident £30.86
49857 incidents Total value £193,163.80 Average loss per incident £3.87
51,390
01/01/2021 - 31/12/2021
490 incidents Total value £43,961.34. Average loss per incident £89.71
2 incidents Total value £19.97 Average loss per incident £9.99
655 incidents Total value £16,436.75. Average loss per incident £25.09
39605 incidents Total value £167,214.50 Average loss per incident £4.22
40,752
Please note that this table shows incidents of Visa and Mastercard payment card fraud as reported by customers - including when their card had been used after being stolen. The table does not include payment card fraud for American Express cards as we do not hold reliable data on this and it is not categorised in the same way. This information is dynamic and is therefore subject to change. Please also note that none of these values represent a loss to TfL, they are covered by the card issuer and the individual charges behind the amounts stated above are reimbursed to affected customers (subject to discussions between the customer and their card issuer).
If this is not the information you are looking for please feel free to contact me. Please see the attached information sheet for details of your right to appeal.
Yours sincerely
Gemma Jacob Senior FOI Case Officer FOI Case Management Team General Counsel Transport for London
