If a passenger from this fake taxi asks you to pay the fare, call 9-1-1

The public in London, Ont. is being warned about a complex scam that sees victims believing they're helping a taxi passenger cover his cab fare, only to be bilked out of thousands of dollars.

London police say multiple people have been approached by a man seen near or getting out a silver Nissan sedan that has a taxi roof light on top.

The so-called passenger says the cab driver won't accept cash due to the new COVID-19 variant. He asks if the victim will cover the fare with a debit card to be reimbursed in cash. 

The victim is given the debit machine from the taxi and is provided a receipt from the driver once the transaction is complete. The cash fare is handed over, as promised. 

In each case, investigators say the victim later discovers a large sum of money is gone from their account, plus they've been returned a fraudulent, look-a-like debit card. 

Police say approximately 20 people have fallen for the ruse since Jan. 5, 2022. They say the victims have been defrauded between $1,100 and $13,000, totalling approximately $100,000.

The suspects are described as: 

Police believe the fake taxi is a 2014 Nissan Altima. They're warning people to never give out a debit card to a stranger and to call 9-1-1 immediately if approached. 

Anyone with additional information is asked to call the London Police Service Fraud Intake line at (519) 661-5515, ext. 5257 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).