Toronto/CMEDIA: A Toronto Police investigation into a taxi scam has reportely resulted in 11 arrests and 108 charges.
After multiple victims reported the fraud, the Financial Crimes Unit (FCU) launched Project Fare in July 2024.
“During the transaction, the suspects discreetly swapped the victim’s card with a card that looked like theirs. The real card and their PIN was then passed on to their accomplices. These fraudsters used the stolen cards and PINs to withdraw funds from ATMs, deposit fraudulent cheques to artificially inflate account balances and made high-value purchases, including electronics, gift cards and luxury clothing,” Detective David Coffey said a t a news conference at police headquarters on June 19 that unsuspecting victims were picked up and asked to pay for the ride using a credit or debit card.
The fraudsters scammed Toronto taxi customers out of over $500,000 in a 10-month span, Police have alleged.
Initially 61 incidents to the suspects investigators were linked.
Charges include fraud, possession of proceeds of crime over $5,000 and forgery offences.
List
Ekjot Nahal, 22, Brampton
- Fraud Over $5000 (5 counts)
- Possession of Proceeds of Crime over $5000
Harjoban Nahal, 25, Brampton
- Fraud Over $5000 (5 counts)
- Possession of Proceeds of Crime over $5000
- Flight from Peace Officer
- Dangerous Operation
- Operation of Conveyance while Prohibited (2 counts)
- Breach of Conditional Sentence Order
Connor Wybenga, 26, Toronto
- Fraud Over $5000 (5 counts)
- Attempt Fraud Over $5000
- Possession of Proceeds of Crime over and under $5000
- Unlawfully Deal with Device for Forgery
Korbin Sonley, 22, Toronto
- Possession of Proceeds of Crime over and under $5000
- Unlawfully Deal with Device for Forgery
Michael Denine, 24, Newfoundland
- Possession of Proceeds of Crime over and under $5000
- Unlawfully Deal with Device for Forgery
Harpreet Singh, 24, Brampton
- Fraud over $5000 (3 counts)
- Fraud under $5000 (9 counts)
- Possession of Property Obtained by Crime under $5000 (12 counts)
- Possession of Proceeds of Crime over $5000
- Obstruct Peace Officer
- Possession of Instruments to Commit Forgery (2 counts)
- Unauthorized Use of Credit Card Data
- Attempt Fraud over $5000
Luis Collado, 24, Mississauga
- Fraud over $5000
- Fraud under $5000 (3 counts)
- Attempt Fraud under $5000
- Possession of Property Obtained by Crime under $5000 (5 counts)
- Possession of Instruments to Commit Forgery
- Unauthorized Use of Credit Card Data
Reazuddin Shaikh, 50, Toronto
- Fraud over $5000 (3 counts)
- Fraud under $5000 (6 counts)
- Attempt Fraud under $5000
- Possession of Property Obtained by Crime under $5000 (8 counts)
- Possession of Instruments to Commit Forgery
- Unauthorized Use of Credit Card Data
Anastasia Zacharopoulos Johnston, 19, Vaughan
- Fraud over $5000
- Fraud under $5000
- Possession of Proceeds of Crime over and under $5000
- Possession of Property Obtained by Crime under $5000 (2 counts)
Gurnoor Singh Randhawa, 20, No Fixed Address
- Fail to Comply with Release Order
- Possession of Property Obtained by Crime under $5000 (2 counts)
- Possession of Credit Card Obtained by Offence (2 counts)
Gaurav Taak, 23, Brampton
- Possession of Property Obtained by Crime over $5000
- Possession of Instruments to Commit Forgery
In 2024, Toronto police recorded just over 16,700 fraud reports, with total estimated losses reaching approximately $368.6 million, equating to an average of 45 reports per day.
According to Toronto police data, the top five financially damaging scam types (by reported dollar losses) were online investment scams ($71.2 million), account takeovers ($36.1 million), romance scams ($34.5 million), cryptocurrency scams ($32.8 million) and identity theft ($16.4 million).
But that number more than doubled by the end of the investigation.
Multiple handheld debit and credit terminals, high-end luxury clothing and jewelry, computers and mobile phones, various debit and credit cards and a number of art pieces were seized by FCU officers along with 14, 23, 32, 51 and 52 Division members executed three search warrants at locations associated with three suspects on May 21.
An art piece seized during the investigation. Photo courtesy: TPS 
Some of the luxury items that were seized. Photo courtesy: TPS
It is believed by the investigators that there are more victims.
“If you had your debit or credit card stolen as part of a taxi scam, please report it to Toronto Police,” Coffey said. “We are also asking for the public’s help in identifying these two outstanding male suspects. If you recognize either of these two individuals, please contact Crime Stoppers if you wish to remain anonymous. We are also looking to identify this female who we believe has information that would assist us in the identification of one of the outstanding suspects. If you are this woman or recognize this woman, please contact police.”
He said the fraudsters are not an indictment of the legitimate taxi industry.
“The individuals involved in this scheme deliberately deceived their victims into believing they were legitimate taxi drivers,” Coffey added. “Licensed professional taxi operators across Toronto continue to provide an essential transportation service for many residents in our city. We are reminding people to remain vigilant, especially when making card payments. Remember that legitimate taxi drivers will never refuse cash, will not take your card out of sight nor will they ever ask for your PIN. If something doesn’t feel right, trust your instincts, refuse the transaction and report it.”
Coffey thanked the community for coming forward, the financial institutions for their co-operation and the FCU and various divisions along with Peel Regional Police who assisted in the investigation.
