Just weeks after Southern Vectis changed to a new ticket system, fraudsters have found a way to copy the design and it’s causing chaos for the Go-Ahead bus company.
Islanders are being warned to be on the lookout for the counterfeit freedom 90 rover tickets after Southern Vectis bus drivers confiscated many of them this week.
The fake Freedom 90 bus tickets priced at £198 are being sold around the island for 1/4 of the price. They look like the real tickets and are also laminated on the green card.
It is believed the Fake tickets are missing the word “adult” and are printed with the location of purchase as “Sandown”
Due to the large amount of fake tickets southern Vectis have bought over ticket inspectors and are doing random ticket checks on-board all the buses.
One unlucky owner of a fake pass told the Isle of Wight chronicle “If it sounds to good to be true then it is. I purchased one of these tickets believing it was original and it lasted me two bus journeys before it was taken off of me. The 3 month freedom tickets are the biggest they offer, I bet there isn’t that many originals in circulation and that’s what probably caused southern vectis to become concerned.
