Is It Safe to Accept Help From Strangers at Ticket Machines?
Helpful hands are welcome. Pressure at a machine deserves caution.
Accepting help from strangers at ticket machines can be harmless, but it can also create opportunities for scams or theft. The risk increases when someone approaches quickly, insists on helping, touches the screen for you, asks to handle your card, or directs you to a different payment method. In busy stations, some scammers use confusion around ticket zones, machines, or language barriers to pressure travelers. A safer option is to ask uniformed staff, use official information desks, or step aside and check the route on your phone. If someone offers help politely and keeps distance, it may be genuine, but you should keep control of your card, cash, and screen choices at all times.