How to Prevent Fake Tickets with Scratch Codes and Unique IDs

Categorised in: Blog

Unfortunately, South African businesses are no strangers to ticket fraud. From concerts and sports matches to raffles and transport, fake tickets can seriously damage your reputation, revenue and customers’ trust. 

With online design tools and low-cost printers widely accessible, counterfeiters don’t need advanced skills to replicate a basic-looking ticket. That’s why more organisations are turning to security printing features like scratch codes and unique identifiers to protect both the ticket issuer and the buyer. At Uniprint Global, we’ve worked with everyone from event companies to national brands to help stamp out ticket fraud using tried-and-tested techniques. 

Here’s how it works and why scratch codes and unique IDs are game-changers for secure ticketing.

Scratch Codes Make Duplication Difficult

Much like the prepaid airtime vouchers most South Africans use every day, tickets can be printed with a concealed area that covers a unique code. This code can’t be seen or copied unless the scratch panel is removed, and once it’s scratched, it can’t be replaced.

Let’s say you’re running a national competition or concert series. Each ticket or entry voucher printed by Uniprint can be embedded with a one-time-use scratch code. That code is stored securely in your system. When someone tries to redeem it, either online or at the venue, the system checks whether the code is valid, unused, and issued by you. If it’s already been used, it’s flagged instantly. This kind of tamper-evident measure helps eliminate guesswork at the door and removes temptation for scammers.

Unique ID Checks for One Owner

A unique ID might look like a string of digits or a QR code on the ticket, but it does more than just identify the holder. When scanned, it connects to a secure database to confirm the ticket’s authenticity.

For example, if you’re a Johannesburg-based transport operator offering student discount passes, Uniprint can produce these with a one-of-a-kind ID tied to each recipient. At checkpoints, inspectors can use handheld devices or a mobile app to scan the code and verify the ticket in real time. This means fake versions, even if they look identical on paper, will be instantly recognised as invalid.

Designed for Trust, Built for Scale

Security features only work when they’re scalable and cost-effective. That’s why our systems are built to handle high volumes without compromising traceability. Whether you’re printing 1,000 entry passes for a school fundraiser or 500,000 tickets for a national retailer’s scratch-and-win campaign, each unit can carry a unique scratch code and ID.

At the end of the day, protecting your tickets is about protecting your customers’ experience. Whether someone is stepping onto a bus, arriving at an event, or entering a nationwide competition, the last thing you want is for them to question the validity of what’s in their hand. For bulk ticket printing safe from fraud, get in touch now.

FAQs and Answers

1. How do scratch codes help prevent fake tickets?
Scratch codes conceal a unique code under a panel, making it impossible to duplicate without detection. They prevent reuse and confirm authenticity.

2. What are unique IDs in ticket printing?
Unique IDs are one-of-a-kind identifiers (like QR codes) printed on each ticket. They are used to verify authenticity through secure database checks.

3. Can fake tickets be detected using these methods?
Yes, both scratch codes and unique IDs allow organisers to validate tickets instantly, flagging reused or unauthorised copies.

4. Who can benefit from secure ticket printing?
Event organisers, transport operators, competition hosts, and retailers can all benefit from fraud-resistant ticketing with scratch codes and IDs.

5. Are scratch codes suitable for large print runs?
Absolutely. Uniprint’s systems are built to handle high-volume printing while maintaining traceability and unique code generation.

6. What makes scratch codes tamper-evident?
Once a scratch code is revealed, it can’t be replaced. Any tampering is visible, which helps eliminate fraudulent attempts.

7. How does real-time ID scanning work?
A unique ID connects to a secure database. When scanned using a device or mobile app, it confirms the ticket’s validity instantly.

8. Can these secure tickets be used for competitions?
Yes, they are ideal for scratch-and-win promotions, raffles, and competitions that require one-time-use codes tied to each entry.