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Caledon OPP Warns Local Residents About Taxi Scam

Officers from the Caledon Detachment of the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) are investigating three separate incidents involving a taxi scam in the Town of Caledon.

On September 10, 2021, officers responded to three incidents that occurred in the area of Highway 50 and Industrial Road in Bolton. In all three instances, victims were approached by a young male “taxi passenger” who requested their assistance. In each case the male told the victims that the taxi he had taken would not accept cash as payment for the fare. The “taxi passenger” then asked the victim to pay the fare on his behalf using their debit card, promising to then reimburse the victim in cash. The victims agreed to assist the male and used their debit cards to pay the fare. During the transaction the “taxi driver” then switched the victim’s debit card with a stolen card. After the transaction the “taxi passenger” gave the victim a quantity of cash for the fare and he and the “taxi driver” left the scene.

The victim did not realize their debit card had been stolen and replaced by a fake card until later. All three victims reported money being withdrawn from their account ranging from $1000 to $3000.

The suspect vehicle is described as a black Toyota with a “Taxi” sign on top.

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The “taxi passenger” is described as a male, approximately 18-25 years old.

Actions you can take to protect yourself:

• Never hand your card over. If you do, make sure that the card returned to you is yours

• If you’re asked to insert or tap your card, beware of fake wireless point‑of‑sale terminals or those not connected to the internet. If something seems strange, don’t go through with the transaction

• If you think you may be a victim of debit card fraud, contact your bank immediately and they will take the appropriate steps to protect you. For example, they may block your card to prevent losses, ask you to change your PIN or cancel your card and issue you a new one

• Consider setting daily withdrawal limits

• Check your transactions regularly

For more information regarding current scams and more tips on how to protect yourself from fraud, please visit the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre at https://www.antifraudcentre-centreantifraude.ca/index-eng.htm.

If you or someone you know suspect they have been a victim of fraud, contact your local police service and the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre by phone at 1-888-495-8501 or online at https://www.antifraudcentre-centreantifraude.ca/report-signalez-eng.htm.

The post Caledon OPP Warns Local Residents About Taxi Scam appeared first on Just Sayin' Caledon.

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