Fare cheats exploit digital loopholes in MTR system

Ayra Wang

Fare evaders are exploiting a loophole in digital payment platforms to avoid paying full fares in the MTR system, with some dodging up to HK$100, Sing Tao Probe has uncovered.

The scam, known as "AB tickets," involves manipulating e-payment ride codes on different platforms such as AlipayHK and WeChat Pay HK to enter and exit MTR stations, and is most prevalent at Lo Wu and Lok Ma Chau stations.

To understand the tactic, reporters traveled from Tseung Kwan O station to Lo Wu station using Alipay and WeChat Pay codes, while simultaneously paying the full fare with an Octopus card for comparison. Using an Alipay code to enter at Tseung Kwan O and switching to WeChat Pay to exit at Lo Wu, the reporters found that the system allows users to manually input an entry station closer to their destination.

This reduced the fare from HK$50.10 to HK$26.50 by falsely setting Sheung Shui as the entry station - nearly half the cost.

The Alipay code, though locked in an "entered" state, can be manually unlocked by pressing "exit successful," allowing users to re-enter the system without paying any fee.

In another test, reporters traveled from Lo Wu to Mong Kok East, reducing the fare from HK$45 to just HK$4 by falsely inputting Kowloon Tong as the entry station.

The most extreme case involved a first-class trip from Lo Wu to Admiralty, which normally costs HK$111.

By falsely setting the Exhibition Centre as the entry station and traveling in a standard carriage, the fare dropped to HK$4.9 - evading more than HK$100.

Under the MTR By-laws, fare evasion and misuse of fare concessions can result in a HK$1,000 surcharge, and passengers found traveling without valid tickets will face fines of up to HK$5,000.

Barrister Albert Luk Wai-hung warned that exploiting ride codes could lead to fraud charges, punishable by up to 10 years in prison.

MTR said that while most passengers comply with the rules, it has mechanisms to monitor unusual account activities, such as repeated manual entry of entry stations. It urged passengers to pay the correct fare to avoid having their payment tools suspended.

AlipayHK and WeChat Pay HK both emphasized their risk control measures, warning that suspicious accounts may face restrictions. They called on users to abide by terms of service and cherish public resources.

ayra.wang@singtaonewscorp.com