THE Department of Transportation (DOTr) has urged the public to be vigilant against individuals falsely claiming to be Transportation officials to solicit money, favors, or other forms of assistance, following reports of fraudulent activities using the agency’s name. In a statement, the DOTr said it had received multiple reports of scam attempts, with officials from Region 9 (Zamboanga Peninsula) identified as among the recipients of the fraudulent messages. Individuals behind the scheme allegedly posed as DOTr officials and used the agency’s name to solicit assistance, prompting the advisory to government employees and the public, the agency said. The DOTr emphasized that its officials and employees do not engage in any form of solicitation and all official transactions with the department are conducted strictly through formal and verified channels. The agency urged the public to exercise caution and immediately report similar incidents to its commuter hotline or through its official social media pages. Moreover, it said that the department continues to coordinate with concerned authorities to address the reported incidents and prevent further misuse of the department’s name. Smooth MRT travel Meanwhile, commuters riding the MRT-3 are enjoying smoother travel today as a 3-car Dalian train set returned to service on Christmas Day.