Police warning of persisting card swap taxi scam in Ottawa

The Ottawa Police Service (OPS) and By-law and Regulatory Services (BLRS) are warning residents about card skimming fraud involving illegitimate taxis in the nation’s capital.

They are advising the public to remain vigilant about these taxi scams operating in the city, wrote OPS in a news release.

Scams often involve an individual asking for assistance to pay a taxi fare by debit or credit card, with the person claiming the driver will not accept cash. In some cases, the vehicle had a roof sign and taxi plate stolen from a legitimate taxi licensed to operate in Toronto only, the release notes.

OPS highlights the importance of determining whether a taxi cab is real.

All licensed taxicabs in Ottawa should have:

• A taxi plate with the City of Ottawa logo located on the right side of the rear bumper (this plate is either blue with white lettering or white with green letters)
• A roof sign indicating the taxi company and plate number
• An identification number on both sides of the vehicle
• A taximeter with a City of Ottawa seal

OPS and BLRS are reminding the public that all taxi drivers must carry an identification card with their photo and driver number. Taxi companies that are licensed to operate in Ottawa include Blue Line Taxi Co. Ltd., Capital Taxi, West-Way Taxi and Executive Cabs.

Police also say people should follow these safety tips when commuting via taxi:

• Don’t accept to pay with your debit or credit card for someone else’s transaction even if you are offered monetary compensation, equivalent or superior to the original transaction amount
• When making purchases, protect your PIN
• Do not share your PIN with anyone
• Choose a PIN that is not easy to guess – avoid birthdays and phone numbers, etc
• Keep a close watch on your incoming bank and credit card statements

For more tips from the OPS Fraud Unit, click here.

To report an incident, call the Police Reporting Unit at 613-236-1222, ext. 7300 or reach out online.

According to the Ottawa Police Service, unlicensed taxicabs should be reported to By-law and Regulatory Services by calling 3-1-1.

More information on regulations for taxis and Private Transportation Companies can be found on the City of Ottawa website.