February 13, 2025

Suspects in alleged fake taxi scam arrested by Transit Police

New Westminster – Transit Police has recommended charges against two men believed to be involved in a debit and credit card scam that relied on them using a fake taxi to target unsuspecting good Samaritans at universities and shopping centres across the Lower Mainland.

In this scam, one of the suspects poses as a passenger inside the taxi who cannot pay their cab fare. They then ask citizens for assistance covering the amount. When the victims agree to help and hand over their debit or credit cards to pay the stranger’s fare, their cards are covertly swapped out by the vehicle’s occupants. In some cases, fraudulent purchases and withdrawals are then made on the victims’ real cards.

On December 6, 2024, just before 9:00 p.m., police officers from the Transit Police Crime Suppression Team, working near Surrey Central SkyTrain Station, spotted a black Hyundai Elantra suspected to be involved in several “taxi fraud” investigations within the Lower Mainland.

Police observed as the passenger got out of the vehicle and placed a yellow “taxi” sign on the roof of the Hyundai, before getting back in as the vehicle drove off toward SFU Surrey. Given these observations, police suspected the occupants were readying to look for more victims.

When officers attempted to stop the vehicle, the driver of the Hyundai rammed an unmarked Transit Police vehicle. With the help of nearby officers from Surrey Police Service and the Combined Forces Special Enforcement Unit – Uniform Gang Enforcement Team (CFSEU-UGET), both the driver and the passenger were taken into custody. Several items were seized from the suspect vehicle, including:

29 debit and credit cards
A debit card payment machine
A magnetic taxi sign

Transit Police have recommended several charges against the two young men, both from Ontario. They have been released from custody pending charge approval.

“While we are grateful to have made arrests in this case, we caution the public to never let their credit card out of their sight if they choose to help a stranger who appears to be in financial need. Members of the public are being asked to familiarize themselves with the details of this alleged operation and remain vigilant when it comes to handing over their bank cards.” – Constable Amanda Steed

Anyone with any information regarding this incident, who has not yet spoken to police, is asked to contact Transit Police by phone at 604.515.8300 or by text at 87.77.77