The Toronto Police Service (TPS) has issued a public warning about increased reports of taxi scams in the city.
Though the scams can vary in execution, the police said in many cases the driver will refuse cash and demand a payment by debit card. The scammer would then obtain the customer’s PIN by entering it into a fake payment terminal.
In some cases, a second person, posing as a passenger, may also ask a potential victim for help paying a cab driver with a debit or credit card in exchange for cash.
When using a credit or debit card in a Toronto cab, police said travellers should stay vigilant. A fake debit terminal will appear visibly older and does not have a tap function. Many fake terminals will not have a screen backlight, though newer models may have a bright blue or green screen.
Police said the scams are especially prevalent outside of venues such as theatres, arenas, transit hubs and areas where taxi drivers are typically waiting for customers.
If you suspect a cab driver may be attempting to scam you, police recommend purposefully inputting a wrong PIN into the card machine. A fake card terminal will always read “payment approved,” even if the PIN is incorrect. In this instance, TPS asks that you remove your card from the fake terminal and keep it for fingerprinting after contacting the police.
Police said travellers who suspect they are being scammed should never challenge the driver and should exit the cab immediately.
Victims should also take a photo of the cab’s licence plate and taxi number, if possible.
If you’ve been scammed, you should contact your bank and lock your compromised card.
Suspected taxi scams should be reported to the TPS non-emergency line at 416-808-2222.
If you are in immediate danger, always call 911.
