Toronto police warn of taxi and food delivery card scam
A woman approaches riders with a story, then suspects use modified payment machines to steal card data and PINs.
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Toronto police are warning residents about an ongoing fraud targeting taxi and food delivery customers across the city.
The scam works like this: a woman approaches a rider claiming the taxi driver won't accept cash and only takes debit. She offers to pay in cash if the victim swipes their debit card for the fare. The driver then claims the tap feature isn't working and asks the victim to insert the card directly.
The payment machines are modified to record both the card data and PIN. After the transaction, the victim receives a different card that resembles their own — but the suspects now have their actual card and PIN.
"After the transaction is successful, the victim is given another bank card that resembles their own," police said in a statement released Friday. "The suspects are now in possession of the victim's debit card and use the PIN to make a number of fraudulent purchases and/or withdrawals."
Police remind the public to never leave debit or credit cards unattended inside a payment terminal. If a machine displays an error or stops working, remove your card before handing it back to the driver. Cover your fingers when entering your PIN, and inspect your card after each transaction to ensure it's the same one you handed over.
Authorities also advise against making payments for unknown people in exchange for cash — a setup that often signals fraud.