Police warn of new taxi or delivery service scam in St. Catharines

A new scam in the St. Catharines area has been reported to Niagara police.

Detectives say a person, pretending to be a customer, exits a vehicle with a taxi or Domino’s Pizza sign on the car.

The scammer approaches a potential victim, claiming the driver only accepts card payments and not cash.

The fraudster offers the victim cash in exchange for using their debit card. Once the victim agrees, the scammer discreetly swaps the victim’s card with a fake one.

The suspect then takes the victim’s card to a nearby ATM to withdraw as much money as possible.

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To protect yourself from falling victim to this scam, Niagara police say to:

• Never hand over your debit or credit card to someone you don’t know, even if they offer cash in return;
• Avoid entering your PIN for anyone else, regardless of the situation;
• Be cautious of strangers who ask for help with payments, especially if they approach you with an urgent request;
• Always double-check your card after any transaction to ensure it is yours;
• Trust your instincts – if something feels off or too good to be true, walk away;
• Report any suspicious activity to the police or your bank as soon as possible; and
• By staying vigilant and aware, you can help protect yourself and others from this type of scam.

Anyone with information regarding this scam is asked to contact detectives at 905-688-4111, option 3, ext. 1008914.

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