Toronto police this week issued an arrest warrant for a 25-year-old Brampton man in connection with a taxi scam that has bilked more than $40,000 from unsuspecting city residents.
The scam traditionally involves both a so-called taxi operator using a stolen cab and another suspect pretending to be a customer, Toronto Police Inspector Paul Rinkoff said in the video.
Victims are approached by an individual claiming the taxi operator will not accept cash payment for the fare. The scammer will ask victims to pay the fare with their debit or credit cards, offering to give them cash in exchange.
“You’re a good person, and you want to help,” Insp. Rinkoff said. “Next, the fake taxi driver takes your payment card and inserts it into a modified point of sale terminal. The machine records your pin. They swap your card and give you back a fake one. The scammers can now withdraw money from your account with your card and pin.”
One $29 cab ride turned into a $2,500 scam, the video indicated.
Police said a suspect has been identified in connection with several of these incidents.
Brampton resident Steven Chambers, is wanted for fraud over $5,000, attempted fraud under $5,000, three counts of assault, and two counts of failing to comply with a release order in connection with taxi scam incidents.
To avoid getting scammed, the police said individuals should never leave their debit or credit cards unattended inside a point of sale terminal. Police also suggest being aware of both taxi numbers and company names when using their services and making a note of the driver’s identification that should be displayed so customers have a clear view of it from the rear of the cab.
“If there is an error code, or the debit machine is not functioning, always remove your debit card before returning the machine for assistance,” the police said, adding that it is a good idea for individuals to cover their fingers when entering the PIN number and to inspect their cards after each transaction.
