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Waterloo Region, Ontario – The Waterloo Regional Police Service is alerting the public after receiving multiple reports of an ongoing taxi fraud scam in Waterloo Region.
Between May 28 and June 4, 2024, WRPS received four reports from victims who had their debit cards stolen and used fraudulently after a fraudster posing as a taxi passenger asked for help to pay their fare.
In one instance, a victim was approached by a male passenger in a vehicle that appeared to be a taxi in the area of Ezra Street and Clayfield Avenue in Waterloo. The male told the victim that the taxi driver would not accept cash payment, and offered to reimburse the victim in cash if the victim could pay for the fare using their debit card.
The victim then inserted their debit card into the point-of-sale machine and entered their PIN to complete the transaction. The driver then returned the card to the victim.
The victim subsequently realized they had been handed back a debit card that was not theirs, and that a large amount of money had been withdrawn from their bank account.
Waterloo Regional Police are encouraging members of the public to consider the following tips to help prevent being a victim of a similar scam:
- Do not leave your debit or credit card unattended inside a point-of-sale terminal.
- Be aware of taxi numbers and company names when using their services.
- If there is an error code or the debit machine is not functioning, always remove your debit card before returning the machine for assistance.
- Do not make payments for an unknown person using your personal card in exchange for cash.
- Inspect your card after each transaction and ensure it is your card.
- Shield the keypad when entering your PIN.
- Use contactless payment options, such as tap to pay, whenever possible. No PIN is required for contactless payments.
If you have been a victim of a taxi fraud scam and have not yet reported the incident to police, please do so by calling 519-570-9777.
If you have any information regarding any fraudulent activity, please report it to police or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.
WA24136875 (979), WA24144127 (915), WW24001964 (914), WA24144925 (915)
Media Inquiries:
Waterloo Regional Police Service
Public Information Unit
519-570-9777 (WRPS) ext. 8188
publicinfo@wrps.on.ca
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