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Toronto Police are alerting the public about an increase in reported taxi scams outside of venues such as theatres, arenas and transit hubs.
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Cops say in many cases the driver will refuse cash and demand a payment by debit card or a second person, posing as a passenger, may also ask you for help paying with a debit or credit card in exchange for cash.
Police say the goal is for the scammer to obtain the customer’s PIN by entering it into a fake payment terminal before the driver then switches the customer’s card with another one.
Fake debit terminals appear to be older, without a tap function, and typically have a grey screen with no backlight while newer terminals have a bright blue or green screen, police say.
Victims are urged to report any suspected taxi scams to the Toronto Police non-emergency line at 416-808-2222 or, if you are in immediate danger, call 911.
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Otherwise, here are the following tips to help protect you from taxi scams:
– If you think the terminal may be fake, input the wrong PIN. A fake terminal will always say “payment approved,” even after the wrong PIN while a legitimate terminal would say “invalid PIN, please try again.”
– If you think you have been asked for payment from a fake terminal, take the card out and keep it for fingerprinting.
– Never challenge the driver and immediately exit the taxi and, if safe, take pictures of the taxi and taxi number.
– Call your bank or login to your banking app to lock or cancel your card.
– When you get your new card, sign the back with a unique-coloured pen so you can immediately recognize it.
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