Computer-implemented methods and apparatus to perform a valid transfer of an electronic mobile ticket on a mobile device by a ticketing application system of a ticket processing center. One method includes: receiving a first electronic message from a first user, where the first message includes an encrypted electronic mobile ticket and a mobile device number of a second user, and where the electronic mobile ticket is encrypted with a key shared between the first user and the ticketing application system; decrypting the encrypted electronic mobile ticket; generating an electronic mobile ticket encrypted with a key shared by the ticketing application system and the second user; and transmitting a second electronic message that includes the electronic mobile ticket encrypted with the key shared between the ticketing application system and the second user to a mobile device of the second user.