Ottawa police warning residents of card swap scam involving taxis and rideshares

The sign outside Ottawa Police headquarters on Elgin St. is seen in this undated photo. (Aaron Reid/CTV News Ottawa)

Ottawa police are warning residents to be vigilant when approached by people asking to use your debit or credit card to pay for a taxi or rideshare.

Police say they've received complaints from people who have been defrauded after offering to help a stranger pay for a ride.

The way the scam works is someone approaches the victim and asks if they can pay for a taxi fare or rideshare because the driver does not accept cash. The victim is offered cash in exchange for paying for the ride with their card.

"If the victim accepts, they are brought to the nearby taxicab to complete the transaction using their own credit/debit card," police say. "In completing the transaction, the driver switches the victim's credit/debit card for a false one and the Personal Identification number (PIN) is obtained surreptitiously. The victim's card is then used to complete fraudulent transactions."

A similar scam was reported recently in Kingston, Ont.

In a statement posted to the Canadian Taxi Association's website, President Marc Andre Way made it clear that all taxi drivers accept cash.

"There is no taxi driver that will not accept cash. And if a person is posing as a taxi driver and tells you that they do not accept cash, it’s a scam, and the person is trying to compromise your credit cards," Way said.

"Whether it is one person or two persons who approach you saying they need a credit card because the driver cannot take cash, it’s a scam. All taxi drivers are ready to accept cash."

Uber says it has been in touch with the Ottawa Police Service, which named the popular ridesharing app in a news release Monday, and has dedicated staff who work with police departments on investigations. The company says its drivers do not use credit card terminals, so the scam doesn't relate to the Uber platform itself. 

Ottawa police say you should not agree to use your debit or credit card to pay for someone else's transaction, even if you are offered compensation, and to regularly monitor your bank and credit card statements for suspicious activity.

When it comes to keeping your PIN safe, always hide it when making purchases, use one that is difficult to guess, and do not share your PIN with anyone.

Reports of fraud can be made by calling the Police Reporting Unit at 613-236-1222, ext. 7300 or by filing a report online.

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--With files from CTV News Ottawa's Austin Lee