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Two southern Ontario men have been charged in what police are calling a “taxi scam.”
York Regional Police officers responded to a report of a suspicious vehicle at a commercial plaza in Brampton on Sept. 26 at 8:44 p.m., police said in an Oct. 14 press release.
A man told police he was approached by a young person who asked him to speak to a taxi driver in a black Honda Civic on his behalf because the driver was refusing to accept payment from the youth. The youth then allegedly asked the man to pay the fare for him using his credit card. The man refused and obtained the licence plate of the vehicle to give to police.
Investigators determined the licence plate had been stolen, York Regional Police said.
The vehicle was located at another commercial plaza near Applewood Crescent and Portage Parkway. Police followed the vehicle to another commercial plaza in the Islington Avenue and Rexdale Boulevard area of Toronto.
The same driver and passenger attempted to “defraud another victim,” police alleged. The pair were subsequently arrested.
Investigators are alleging the driver routinely swapped the victims’ payment card with one stolen from another victim. The duo has been accused of then withdrawing funds from banks before victims realize what happened.
York Regional Police have charged 34-year-old Weheliye Rage and 19-year-old Osaze Ebagua with seven counts of of possession of stolen property not exceeding $5,000, disguise with intent, and obtaining by false pretence not exceeding $5,000.
Police are asking any additional victims who have not come forward to do so.
Anyone with information is asked to contact York Regional Police or Crime Stoppers.
A similar taxi scam was investigated this summer by Toronto police, who laid more than 100 charges against 11 individuals in June.
Toronto police first launched an investigation into multiple complaints in July 2024. There were initially 61 incidents identified, but that number jumped to 300 by the end of the investigation. An estimated $500,000 was stolen from victims, police said.
Toronto police Det. David Coffey warned the public at the time to be “vigilant” when making card payments.
“Remember the legitimate taxi drivers will never refuse cash, will not take your card out of your sight, nor will they ever ask for your PIN,” he said at a press conference.
