If a passenger from this fake taxi asks you to pay the fare, call 911
Approximately 20 people have been victim to complex scam involving a fake cab
The public in London, Ont. is being warned about a complex scam that sees victims believing they're helping a taxi passenger cover his cab fare, only to be bilked out of thousands of dollars.
London police say multiple people have been approached by a man seen near or getting out a silver Nissan sedan that has a taxi roof light on top.
The so-called passenger says the cab driver won't accept cash due to the new COVID-19 variant. He asks if the victim will cover the fare with a debit card to be reimbursed in cash.
The victim is given the debit machine from the taxi and is provided a receipt from the driver once the transaction is complete. The cash fare is handed over, as promised.
In each case, investigators say the victim later discovers a large sum of money is gone from their account, plus they've been returned a fraudulent, look-a-like debit card.
Police say approximately 20 people have fallen for the ruse since Jan. 5. They say each of the victims have been defrauded somewhere between $1,100 and $13,000, totalling approximately $100,000.
The suspects are described as:
- Male, late teens/early 20s, wearing a puffy jacket, Timberland boots, a black hat and a medical mask.
- Male, approximately 40, all black clothing, black hat and medical mask.
Police believe the fake taxi is a 2014 Nissan Altima. They're warning people to never give out a debit card to a stranger and to call 911 immediately if approached.
Anyone with additional information is asked to call the London Police Service Fraud Intake line at (519) 661-5515, ext. 5257 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).