Card skimming fraud involving illegitimate taxis continues in Ottawa

Posted on Thursday, December 12, 2024

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Thursday, December 12, 2024       2:05 pm

(Ottawa) – The Ottawa Police Service (OPS) and By-law and Regulatory Services (BLRS) are advising the public to remain vigilant about taxi scams operating in the city.

In these scams, an individual may ask for assistance in paying a taxi fare by debit or credit card, as the driver will not accept cash.

In at least one case, the vehicle bore a roof sign and taxi plate stolen from a legitimate taxi licenced only to operate in Toronto.

When engaging with a taxicab, it is important to be able to determine whether it is legitimate.

OPS and BLRS are reminding the public that all licenced taxicabs in Ottawa have:

• a taxi plate with the City of Ottawa logo located on the right side of the rear bumper. This plate is either blue with white lettering or white with green letters
• a roof sign indicating the taxi company and plate number
• an identification number on both sides of the vehicle
• a taximeter with a City of Ottawa seal

Taxi drivers must also have a driver identification card with their photo and driver number.

Only the following taxi companies are licenced to operate in the City of Ottawa:

• Blue Line Taxi Co. Ltd.
• Capital Taxi
• West-Way Taxi
• Executive Cabs

The OPS Fraud Unit provides these safety tips:

• Don’t accept to pay with your debit or credit card for someone else’s transaction even if you are offered monetary compensation, equivalent or superior to the original transaction amount.
• When making purchases, protect your PIN.
• Do not share your PIN with anyone.
• Choose a PIN that is not easy to guess – avoid birthdays and phone numbers, etc.
• Keep a close watch on your incoming bank and credit card statements.
• For more tips, click here.

Reports of fraud can be made by calling the Police Reporting Unit at 613-236-1222, ext. 7300 or online.

Unlicenced taxicabs should be reported to By-law and Regulatory Services by calling 3-1-1.

Visit Ottawa.ca/consumerawareness for more information on regulations for taxis and Private Transportation Companies.

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Through the Community Safety Data portal data.ottawapolice.ca, members of the public can view, download, and interact with data released by the Ottawa Police Service.

CONTACT:

Media Relations Section

Tel: 613-236-1222, ext. 5366

@OttawaPolice

facebook.com/OttawaPoliceService

instagram.com/ottawapolice

 

City of Ottawa Media Relations

Tel: 613 580-2450

Courriel : medias@ottawa.ca

Fraud Unit warning residents to be vigilant with card skimming fraud involving taxis and Uber

 https://www.ottawapolice.ca/en/news/fraud-unit-warning-residents-to-be-vigilant-with-card-skimming-fraud-involving-taxis-and-uber.aspx

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Monday, August 12, 2024   1:48pm

(Ottawa) — The Ottawa Police Service Organized Fraud Unit is advising the public to be extra vigilant when being asked to pay for a service with a credit or bank card in exchange of money.

The Ottawa Police Service has recently received several complaints concerning people being defrauded after affording assistance in paying with their personal credit or bank card for a taxi or Uber fare.

In all incidents, a suspect approaches the victim in a shopping or strip mall parking lot asking them to pay for their cab fare explaining that the driver does not accept cash, and only takes credit or debit.

If the victim accepts, they are brought to the nearby taxicab to complete the transaction using their own credit/debit card.  The suspect then pays the victim with cash for the transaction.

In completing the transaction, the driver switches the victim’s credit/debit card for a false one and the Personal Identification number (PIN) is obtained surreptitiously. The victim’s card is then used to complete fraudulent transactions.

The Fraud Unit provides these safety tips: 

• Don’t accept to pay with your debit or credit card for someone else’s transaction even if you are offered monetary compensation, equivalent or superior to the original transaction amount.
• When making purchases, protect your PIN.
• Do not share your PIN with anyone.
• Choose a PIN that is not easy to guess – avoid birthdays and phone numbers, etc.
• Keep a close watch on your incoming bank and credit card statements.
• For more tips, click here.

Reports of fraud can be made by calling the Police Reporting Unit at 613-236-1222, ext. 7300 or online.

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CONTACT:

Media Relations Section

Tel: 613-236-1222, ext. 5366

Taxi drivers scammed out of $1,000 as police investigate

Suspects allegedly borrowed large amounts of money and left collateral worth little

CBC News Posted: Sep 16, 2015 2:38 PM ET Last Updated: Sep 16, 2015 2:44 PM ET

These three people are believed to be suspects in a fraud case where taxi drivers are scammed into lending at least $1,000. (Ottawa Police Service)

Ottawa police are investigating after two taxi drivers say they were scammed by passengers who asked to borrow large amounts of money, but promised to return the cash.

Police said they began investigating two recent reports, involving three suspects, where more than $1,000 is borrowed as the suspect left a type of collateral behind, such as jewellery.

In both cases, the suspect enters a multiple unit building to supposedly "conduct an important business transaction."

Police said the suspects would not return to the taxi and the collateral is worth very little.

The three suspects are described as:

• Black man, 35 to 40 years old, bald with a thin build.
• Black man, 25 to 35 years old, dark hair, chin-strap beard, larger build with a tattoo on right side of neck.
• White woman, 40 to 50 years old, heavy build, long dirty blonde/brown hair, wearing glasses.

Anyone with information about this investigation is asked to call police at 613-236-1222, ext. 5677 or ext. 5678, or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.