Four Ontario men wanted in $28,000 fake taxi scheme in Calgary
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Police are looking for four Ontario men believed to have posed as taxi drivers, bilking 16 customers out of more than $28,000 through the use of credit card skimmers.
The four men, who face a total of 64 charges, are identified as Martin Hudec Siron, 19, Arvinder Singh, Ibrahim Kald and Matthew Tani, aged 24.
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Police say the suspects used two methods in the scam. In the first, the perpetrators took on riders like any other licensed taxi, and ferried them to their destinations. In the second, a suspect allegedly approached victims claiming they were struggling to pay a taxi fare that would not accept cash. A fare would total between $7 and $7.50, and the suspect would ask a victim if they’d be willing to accept a $10 bill in exchange for paying with their personal debit or credit card.
In both the classic cab scenario and the more complex con, drivers would claim that the tap function on the machine presented was also not functioning, forcing passengers and Good Samaritans alike to insert cards and press PIN codes.
Investigators believe that information would then be captured by the suspects on a skimming device, or the card would be swapped out for a fake one entirely. The card would then be used to withdraw cash or purchase pre-paid credit cards, or gift cards.
Charges for the four include varying counts of theft of a credit card, and counts of fraud under $5,000.
Similar events were found to have occurred in Edmonton, Toronto, and Vancouver. Calgary police specified that the individuals charged were not licensed as taxi drivers in the City of Calgary. However, police say they “have no way to know if they are licensed in other jurisdictions.”
Investigators believe the vehicle was rented, with a model specifically chosen to blend in with other cab services. They say the perpetrators are believed to have “placed a taxi sign on top, similar to ones you can buy online.”
CPS released a warning regarding scams of this nature in July, 2024, after receiving multiple reports of taxi fraud being conducted by what appeared to be an organized group. The warrant comes alongside a host of other scam warnings by the police. Recently, a Quebec Man was charged for defrauding a Calgary senior of more than $300,000 by convincing her to make deposits to bitcoin ATMs, none of which was able to be recovered.
On June 18, police reported that since January they had received more than 30 reports of scammers posing as CPS officers, resulting in losses of more than $43,000.
Suspects in the taxi fraud case are believed to have fled back to Ontario, which investigators believe to be where they reside. Photographs of the suspects can be found on the City of Calgary website.
Police urge anyone with information about this as well as victims of fraud or identity theft, to call the non-emergency line at 403-266-1234 or Crime Stoppers.
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