Niagara police has issued a public safety warning about a new COVID-19 related taxi scam.
The fraud consists of two scammers convincing a victim to use their debit card to pay for a fake taxi ride. Their card and PIN information is then stolen and used by the scammers.
The scenario starts with an argument between two individuals, one posing as a taxi driver and the other as a customer. They pretend that the driver does not take cash due to COVID-19 related health concerns and the fake customer asks the victim to pay for the ride using debit and they will give the victim cash in return.
The fake driver then uses their card for payment and the victim enters their PIN or personal identification number. The PIN is recorded and a different card is returned to the victim. The debit card is then used until the victim becomes aware of the incident.
Anyone that has experienced a financial loss due to a scam can call the NRPS at 905-688-4111 and ask for “dispatch” to report it. If you do not experience a financial loss, you can report it to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre at 1-888-495-8501 or report it online.