Taxi scam suspects arrested and charged
A Toronto Police investigation into a taxi scam has resulted in 11 arrests and 108 charges.
The Financial Crimes Unit (FCU) launched Project Fare in July 2024 after multiple victims reported the fraud.
At a news conference at police headquarters on June 19, Detective David Coffey said unsuspecting victims were picked up and asked to pay for the ride using a credit or debit card.
“During the transaction, the suspects discreetly swapped the victim’s card with a card that looked like theirs,” he said. “The real card and their PIN was then passed on to their accomplices. These fraudsters used the stolen cards and PINs to withdraw funds from ATMs, deposit fraudulent cheques to artificially inflate account balances and made high-value purchases, including electronics, gift cards and luxury clothing.”
Police are alleging that the fraudsters scammed Toronto taxi customers out of over $500,000 in a 10-month span.
Initially, investigators linked 61 incidents to the suspects.
By the end of the investigation, that number more than doubled.
On May 21, FCU officers along with 14, 23, 32, 51 and 52 Division members executed three search warrants at locations associated with three suspects and seized multiple handheld debit and credit terminals, high-end luxury clothing and jewelry, computers and mobile phones, various debit and credit cards and a number of art pieces.
Investigators believe there are more victims.
“If you had your debit or credit card stolen as part of a taxi scam, please report it to Toronto Police,” Coffey said. “We are also asking for the public’s help in identifying these two outstanding male suspects. If you recognize either of these two individuals, please contact Crime Stoppers if you wish to remain anonymous. We are also looking to identify this female who we believe has information that would assist us in the identification of one of the outstanding suspects. If you are this woman or recognize this woman, please contact police.”
He said the fraudsters are not an indictment of the legitimate taxi industry.
“The individuals involved in this scheme deliberately deceived their victims into believing they were legitimate taxi drivers,” Coffey added. “Licensed professional taxi operators across Toronto continue to provide an essential transportation service for many residents in our city. We are reminding people to remain vigilant, especially when making card payments. Remember that legitimate taxi drivers will never refuse cash, will not take your card out of sight nor will they ever ask for your PIN. If something doesn’t feel right, trust your instincts, refuse the transaction and report it.”
He thanked the community for coming forward, the financial institutions for their co-operation and the FCU and various divisions along with Peel Regional Police who assisted in the investigation.
