Channel 5 documentary alleges tens of thousands evade TfL fares using contactless card scam

A new Channel 5 documentary claims tens of thousands of fare dodgers are travelling for free on Transport for London networks by exploiting a contactless bank card scam that lets exit gates open without a completed payment. The episode of Fare Dodgers: At War With The Law estimates about 26,000 cards are used in this way each year, suggesting a level of repeated behavior that TfL investigators say is costly to the network.

The program highlights a specific case at Hayes and Harlington on the Elizabeth line in west London, where a man was confronted by TfL investigators after tracking software indicated he had racked up roughly £2,334.90 in unpaid fares. A head office investigations team works alongside 500 frontline revenue protection staff to monitor such activity using a sophisticated system that flags serial fare evaders. The episode, which airs next Monday at 9 p.m., follows the investigators as they target a commuter who is marked as exiting Hayes and Harlington every morning.

The documentary shows TfL investigators, identified in the footage as Yinks and Maryla, encountering the man and taking him into a private room at the station to discuss the alleged fraud. The tracking and CCTV evidence point to a rogue bank card used to pass through an exit barrier rather than an entry gate, a discovery that prompts further questioning and the collection of the card for court proceedings. In the exchange captured on camera, Yinks repeatedly questions the man about the card and his account of how the scheme began, while Maryla cautions him about the potential consequences of the investigation.

Beyond this case, the program presents a broader look at fare evasion on TfL, including footage of two women who allegedly claimed their phones were out of battery to avoid paying at Southampton Central and a separate segment at Ilford showing a passenger facing more than £3,100 in unpaid fares. The documentary also revisits a well-known incident at Clapham Junction where a university law student cried that his life was finished after being caught travelling without a rail ticket. In another scene, a man at Harold Wood in east London is confronted after avoiding about £1,650 across nearly 250 journeys.

The investigators’ work is part of a broader TfL program that aims to recover money and deter repeat offenders. In several scenes, the officers explain the legal significance of the evidence and the process of securing a potential prosecution. The program notes that, while some travelers may be financially constrained, TfL’s priority is to protect revenue and ensure systems are used as intended.

The documentary also features interactions at London Waterloo and Kingston stations, where officers discuss the use of social engineering and the importance of documenting identity and payment history. In one exchange, a passenger who managed to evade thousands of pounds in fares is asked to sign his details and acknowledge the costs attributed to him, underscoring the seriousness with which TfL treats such cases. The show’s participants acknowledge the financial stress many people face, but the officers emphasize that fare avoidance is not a victimless crime and must be addressed through enforcement as well as outreach.

TfL says fare evasion now costs the network about £190 million per year, a figure that has risen by about 50 percent from two years earlier and is partly attributed to growth on the Elizabeth line after it opened in 2022. Industry body the Rail Delivery Group estimates annual losses from fare dodging of £350 million to £400 million across the railway system. The topic has sparked public debate as high-profile prosecutions of small-scale offenders have drawn attention in recent months.

The program arrives as political and industry voices have weighed in on fare evasion. Former Conservative leadership candidate Robert Jenrick drew public attention in May with a video showing him challenging people who pushed through ticket barriers at Stratford station in London. TfL officials say that while there are competing pressures on travelers, revenue protection remains essential to keeping services available and affordable for others who pay.

Fare Dodgers: At War With The Law continues on Channel 5 next Monday at 9 p.m. for viewers seeking a closer look at how the authorities track and tackle fare evasion and which tools and strategies appear most effective in reducing losses to the transit system.