Do not write or sell scripts for ticket snatching, flash sales, fake orders, or coupon farming — even if they merely “automate button clicks”

3. Do not write or sell scripts for ticket snatching, flash sales, fake orders, or coupon farming — even if they merely “automate button clicks”

Cost: No expense and no time required

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.

Benefit: 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).

Evidence grade: A

Sources: National People's Congress (2020). Criminal Law (Amended in accordance with the Criminal Law Amendment (11), Article 285, Paragraph 2). <https://jtgl.beijing.gov.cn/jgj/jgxx/flfg/fl/11033925/index.html>; Supreme People's Court of China, Supreme People's Procuratorate of China (2011). Interpretation of Several Issues Concerning the Application of Laws in Handling Criminal Cases Endangering the Security of Computer Information Systems (Article 1). <https://ga.sz.gov.cn/ZWGK/ZCFG/ZCJD/content/post_1304363.html>; Supreme People's Procuratorate of China (2026). Shanghai Jing'an: Investigate the case of using plug-in software to rob train tickets in batches for profit. <https://www.spp.gov.cn/spp/dfjcdt/202607/t20260707_731426.shtml>; Supreme People's Court of China (2025). Typical intellectual property cases of the People's Court in 2024 (Case 7, unfair competition case of ticket grabbing software). <https://enipc.court.gov.cn/zh-cn/news/view-4205.html>

Notes: 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.