Police warn of taxi scam that steals PIN numbers from unsuspecting victims
Posted August 2, 2023 4:06 pm.
Last Updated August 2, 2023 5:15 pm.
Toronto police are warning the public about an ongoing taxi scam.
Investigators say a vehicle that resembles a taxi is parked in a high-traffic area with one person posing as the driver and the second person pretending to be a customer.
The fake driver refuses to accept the fake customer’s cash or they claim they can’t pay their fare because their debit or credit card is not working.
The unsuspecting victim then offers to pay using their debit or credit card in exchange for the cash.
The victim then enters their PIN number into a modified point of sale terminal, giving the suspect possession of the card data. The victim is then given another bank card that resembles their own before leaving the scene.
Toronto police tell CityNews that while the taxi scam is not new, criminals are continually modifying strategies to obtain victim’s debit and/or credit cards so that funds can be fraudulently obtained from a victim’s bank accounts.
“This is a reminder for the public to be vigilant when it comes to their personal information when paying with a debit/credit card,” investigators said in a statement.
Police are encouraging anyone who believes they may have been a victim of this scam or has any additional information to contact them.
