Toronto police say they’ve laid more than 100 charges in a taxi scam that saw victims lose an estimated $500,000.
Toronto Police Service (TPS) made the announcement at a June 19 news conference, where they said they’ve arrest 11 suspects, and are still looking for two more.
Det. David Coffey said the taxi scam involved the suspects gaining possession of victim’s credit or debit cards, and pin numbers.
“The scam involved the suspects masquerading as legitimate taxi operators,” Coffey said. “Unsuspecting victims were picked up and asked to pay for the ride using a credit or debit card. During the transaction, the suspects discreetly swapped the victim’s card with a card that looked like theirs. The real card and their pin is then passed on to accomplices.”
He said with the stolen cards, the suspects would withdraw money from ATMs and deposit fake cheques to “artificially inflate account balances.”
They would make “high value purchases,” which included electronics, gift cards, and luxury clothing.
TPS said the investigation started in July 2024, after several reports to police from multiple victims.
There were originally 61 incidents identified, police said. However, that number jumped to 300 by the end of the investigation.
Police executed three search warrants at addresses linked to the suspects, seizing multiple point of sale terminals, high-end clothing, electronics, artwork, numerous bank cards, and vehicles that looked like taxis.
Investigators are still looking for two men believed to be involved in the scheme.
The first man is described as between five foot seven inches tall and five feet 10 inches tall, about 25–35 years old, with brown eyes, short black hair, a trimmed black beard, and a medium build.
The second man has been described as between five feet seven inches and six feet tall, in his 20s with brown eyes, thin facial hair, and a medium build.
Coffey also said they were looking for a woman who is a person of interest in the case.
“She was just in a company with one of the males while he was at an ATM,” he said.
Be ‘Vigilant’
Coffey said that the victims were “made whole” by financial institutions and that the public should 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 also said that some of the vehicles used in the scam were previous taxi cabs that the suspects were using to make the whole setup “much more convincing.”
Suspects
The 11 suspects who have been arrested and charged include the following individuals.Ekjot Nahal, 22, from Brampton, has been charged with five counts of fraud over $5,000, and possession of proceeds of crime over $5,000.
Harjoban Nahal, 25, of Brampton, has been charged with five counts of fraud over $5,000, possession of proceeds of crime over $5,000, flight from officer, dangerous operation of a vehicle, two counts of operating a vehicle while prohibited, and breach of a conditional sentence order.
Connor Wybenga, 26, of Toronto, was charged with five counts of fraud over $5,000, attempted fraud over $5,000, possession of proceeds of crime over $5,000, possession of proceeds of crime under $5,000, and unlawful deal with device that could be used for forgery.
Korbin Sonley, 22, from Toronto, is facing one count of possession of proceeds of crime over $5,000, possession of proceeds of crime under $5,000, and unlawful deal with device that could be used for forgery.
Michael Denine, 24, from Newfoundland, is facing charges of possession of proceeds of crime over $5,000, possession of proceeds of crime under $5,000, and unlawful deal with device that could be used for forgery.
Harpreet Harpreet Singh, 24, from Brampton, is charged with three counts of fraud over $5,000, nine counts of fraud under $5,000, 12 counts of possession of property obtained by crime under $5,000, possession of proceeds of crime over $5,000, obstructing a police officer, two counts of possessing instruments to be used to commit forgery, unauthorized use of credit card data, and one count of attempted fraud over $5,000.
Luis Collado, 24, of Mississauga, was charged with fraud over $5,000, three counts of fraud under $5,000, attempted fraud under $5,000, five counts of possession of property obtained by crime under $5,000, possession of instruments to be used to commit forgery, and unauthorized use of credit card data.
Reazuddin Shaikh, 50, from Toronto has been charged with three counts of fraud over $5,000, six counts of fraud under $5,000, attempted fraud under $5,000, eight counts of possession of property obtained by crime under $5,000, possession of instruments to be used to commit forgery, and unauthorized use of credit card data.
Anastasia Zacharopoulos Johnston, 19, from Vaughan, is facing charges of fraud over $5,000, fraud under $5,000, possession of proceeds of crime over $5,000, possession of proceeds of crime under $5,000, and two counts of possession of property obtained by crime under $5,000.
Gurnoor Singh Randhawa, 20, has been charged with failure to comply with a release order, two counts of possession of property obtained by crime under $5,000, and two counts of possession of a credit card obtained by offence.
Gaurav Taak, 23, from Brampton, is facing charges of possession of property obtained by crime over $5,000, and possession of instruments to be used to commit forgery.
