Do not write or sell scripts for ticket snatching, flash sales, fake orders, or coupon farming — even if they merely “automate button clicks”
Original: eternity4719 · source details
Original author: eternity4719 · Chinese source: · English adaptation: parveen0029. Translation and grade notes ↗
Bibliographic titles are retained in their original language.
Source author's views and grades; not individually verified by this site.
In plain terms
Even if a script does not modify memory or bypass security measures and merely sends requests faster than a human can, it still qualifies as illegal acquisition of computer system data. The legal threshold is either earning over 5,000 yuan or causing at least 10,000 yuan in losses. One individual bought multiple 12306 accounts and used them to snatch over 200 train tickets, netting more than 20,000 yuan; he was sentenced to 1 year and 6 months in prison, suspended for the same period, plus a fine of 5,000 yuan. Another person sold ticket‑snatching software online and was found guilty of unfair competition, ordered to pay 20,000 yuan in damages.
This guide's cartoon · show illustration
Enlarge illustrationOriginal illustration with Chinese lettering; the English dialogue is below. Humour is a reading aid, not evidence.
English dialogue
- Technically, it works.
- And the permission?
Cost: what it takes
No expense and no time required
Benefit: what the source reports
Illegally accessing computer systems or obtaining their data via any technical means can lead to imprisonment of up to 3 years, a fine, or both; more serious cases incur 3–7 years in prison. The threshold for “serious circumstances” is earning over 5,000 yuan illegally or causing losses exceeding 10,000 yuan. Official cases include a person who used a bot to submit numerous ticket‑purchase requests using purchased 12306 accounts; he snatched more than 200 tickets and earned over 20,000 yuan, resulting in the same sentence as above. Zheng sold ticket‑snatching software for a specific booking app and was ordered to pay 20,000 yuan for unfair competition (national precedent).
Conditions, limits and disagreements
Even scripts that do not alter memory or bypass security and merely operate faster than humans still fall under Article 285 of the Criminal Law. Both paid ticket‑snatching services and selling such scripts are considered profit‑generating activities. No official cases have been reported for individuals using such scripts solely for personal use.
Original references
Original bibliographic titles and links are preserved; some titles are in Chinese.
全国人大 (2020). 刑法（根据刑法修正案（十一）修正，第二百八十五条第二款）. https://jtgl.beijing.gov.cn/jgj/jgxx/flfg/fl/11033925/index.html；最高人民法院、最高人民检察院 (2011). 关于办理危害计算机信息系统安全刑事案件应用法律若干问题的解释（第一条）. https://ga.sz.gov.cn/ZWGK/ZCFG/ZCJD/content/post_1304363.html；最高人民检察院 (2026). 上海静安：查办利用外挂软件批量代抢火车票牟利案. https://www.spp.gov.cn/spp/dfjcdt/202607/t20260707_731426.shtml；最高人民法院 (2025). 2024 年人民法院知识产权典型案例（案例七，抢票软件不正当竞争案）. https://enipc.court.gov.cn/zh-cn/news/view-4205.html
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