What is this? Select Single Ride if you only need one ticket for one trip and pay $3. To purchase a Pay-Per-Ride Card or a 7-Days-Unlimited Card press MetroCard. Select $9 MetroCard, if you want to buy a Pay-Per-Ride Card and you want to get done quick.

Excellent question! The “Fast $9 MetroCard” is a scam that has been around for years in New York City, primarily targeting tourists and newcomers.

Here’s a breakdown of what it is, how it works, and why you should avoid it.

What It Is

• The Pitch: A person (often near a subway station entrance or in a busy tourist area) will approach you holding a regular, yellow MetroCard. They’ll claim they are leaving the city and have a card with “a lot of money left on it” that they can sell to you for a steep discount—like $9 for a card they say has $20 or more on it.
• The Hook: The offer sounds like a great deal—helping someone out and saving money on your subway fare.

How the Scam Works

1. The Setup: The scammer has a used MetroCard with a very low balance (often just a few cents or a single ride left).
2. The “Demonstration”: To make it seem legitimate, they will quickly swipe the card at a subway turnstile, enter, and then immediately exit through the emergency gate or a service door (which is often propped open or unlocked). They then return to you with the card.
3. The Sale: They tell you the swipe “proves” the card has value. They pressure you to buy it quickly for cash.
4. The Reality: Once you buy it and try to use it yourself, you’ll find the card has almost no value left. The scammer has just exploited the free transfer rule