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Core Points - The article highlights the rise of counterfeit ticket booking apps during peak travel seasons, which charge hidden fees and bundle insurance sales, leading to financial losses for travelers [1][3][4] Group 1: Issues with Counterfeit Apps - Counterfeit ticket booking apps are becoming increasingly difficult for consumers to distinguish from official platforms, especially affecting elderly travelers [3][4] - Many of these apps mimic the interface and branding of the official "Railway 12306" app, making it challenging for users to identify legitimate services [3][4] - Users have reported incidents of personal information theft and unauthorized charges after using these counterfeit apps [4][5] Group 2: Consumer Risks and Complaints - Users face various deceptive practices, such as mandatory advertisement viewing before purchasing tickets and hidden fees for expedited services [5][6] - Complaints about these apps include issues with ticket issuance failures and difficulties in obtaining refunds, leading to consumer frustration [6][7] - The volume of complaints on platforms like "Black Cat Complaints" indicates widespread issues with fake ticket booking apps, including forced advertising and inability to issue tickets [4][7] Group 3: Regulatory and Legal Perspectives - Experts emphasize the need for enhanced regulation and consumer protection against counterfeit apps, which violate consumer rights and may lead to data breaches and fraud [8][9] - Legal experts point out that these counterfeit apps may infringe on copyright and trademark laws, and their practices could lead to criminal charges for illegal operations [8][9] - A multi-departmental approach is recommended to combat these counterfeit apps effectively, involving market regulation, cybersecurity, and law enforcement [9]