MRT-3 warns vs. online sale of beep cards with 'unli' rides

The Metro Rail Transit-3 (MRT-3) management under the Department of Transportation (DOTr) on Friday warned commuters of an online page that sells bogus beep cards that falsely provide unlimited rides to its users.

"The public is advised that recent postings advertising the sale of beep cards with unlimited rides, circulating under the Facebook page 'Manila Metro' are fake and unauthorized by MRT-3," the DOTr MRT-3 said in advisory.

"These online advertisements, often posted on suspicious social media pages, are not legitimate and may be part of a scam designed to trick individuals," it added.

Searches on Facebook for accounts named "Manila Metro" did not yield matches as of posting time. Further checks via Google searches, however, showed that Facebook has blocked "false information" on an account with the same name.

The MRT-3 management added that commuters must be cautious of giving personal information or sending any form of payment to any advertisements from unverified sources.

"The public is also reminded to refer only to MRT-3's official Facebook page for accurate updates and legitimate announcements," it said.

The management also warned of pursuing appropriate actions against individuals for the improper use of MRT-3's name, logo, or images for personal or fraudulent purposes.

Beep card is a reloadable card used for train rides and other public vehicles. It can be purchased in train stations and through beep's official store in popular online shopping platforms.

AF Payments Inc. (AFPI) is the legal owner of the beep trademark and the sole and exclusive issuer of beep cards. — VDV, GMA Integrated News