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0Erinome: Hello dear friends! Welcome to our podcast. I'm Erinome, and sitting next to me is Enceladus. Today, we’re going to talk about a hot topic for people traveling during Chunyun—train ticket booking. Have you heard about those "acceleration packages" some apps sell?
Enceladus: Oh, yeah! I saw ads saying "pay to get tickets faster" or "VIP speed抢票 (qiangpiao)". But wait, is that real?
Erinome: Sad news—recently, Beijing market regulators found it’s a scam! They fined a platform 500,000 yuan for fake advertising.
Enceladus: Wow, 500,000 yuan? That’s a lot! What did the platform do exactly?
Erinome: They called their service "double-channel抢票", "acceleration package", or "light-speed抢票". But actually, they just used 12306’s free "houbu" (候补) function and sold it as a paid service.
Enceladus: Oh no! So those packages can’t really make tickets come faster?
Erinome: Exactly! The 12306 system gives tickets in the order of候补 orders. No app can change that queue order.
Enceladus: That’s so bad! Did anyone get tricked?
Erinome: Yes! One user said he bought 3 VIP channels, 10 acceleration packages, and even a "24-hour special person抢票" service. He paid over 100 yuan but still didn’t get a ticket.
Enceladus: Oh no! What about his friend?
Erinome: His friend used 12306’s free houbu later and got the ticket! So the acceleration package was just "IQ tax", as people say.
Enceladus: That’s a waste of money. Why do people buy them then?
Erinome: Maybe they think "paying more means better chance". But 12306 already said: they never gave third-party apps "priority". All apps just buy tickets through 12306.
Enceladus: So what should we do if tickets are sold out?
Erinome: The official tips say three things. First, only use the 12306 app—it’s the only official channel.
Enceladus: Got it, 12306 is the only one. What’s second?
Erinome: Submit a houbu order right away when tickets are sold out. The system will give tickets in order of who applied first.
Enceladus: Oh, so being quick with houbu is better than paying for packages.
Erinome: Exactly! Third tip: never pay for "acceleration" services. Those "pay to speed up" ads are traps. You might lose money and miss the houbu queue.
Enceladus: Are there other risks?
Erinome: Yes! Some third-party apps keep your personal info. That’s dangerous for privacy. A lawyer even said these platforms might be breaking the law—like selling low and buying high, and messing with 12306’s system.
Enceladus: That’s scary. So the best way is just use 12306 and do houbu early?
Erinome: Yep! No need to pay extra. Save your money and time.
Enceladus: I’ll tell my family about this. They always worry about buying tickets during Chunyun.
Erinome: Good idea! Let’s spread the word: acceleration packages are scams. Trust 12306, do houbu, and don’t waste money!
Enceladus: Right! Okay, that's it for today. Remember: 12306 is the only official app, houbu is free and effective, and say no to paid acceleration packages!
Erinome: Thanks for listening, everyone. Let's talk again next time. Stay safe and happy traveling!
