Taxi scam resurfacing in Waterloo’s University District
Posted Jul 9, 2026 09:55:33 AM.
Last Updated Jul 9, 2026 09:55:37 AM.
On Tuesday, regional police received multiple reports of a scam where the victims’ debit cards were stolen.
Officials said that the victims were in the University District in Waterloo and were using a taxi. In each of the incidents, the person was approached by a female passenger inside the vehicle that looked like a taxi. She told the victim she couldn’t pay the taxi fare because the driver would not accept cash.
The suspect asked the Good Samaritan if they would use their debit card to pay the fare, and she would reimburse them.
During the transaction, the victim’s debit card was swapped and later used by the suspect.
Regional police are warning people of this scam, saying their investigation is ongoing.
Officials are also asking people to be cautious and prevent the fraud from continuing.
Tips from police include:
- Do not leave your debit or credit card unattended inside a point-of-sale terminal.
- Be aware of taxi numbers and company names when using their services.
- If there is an error code or the debit machine is not functioning, always remove your debit card before returning the machine for assistance.
- Do not make payments for an unknown person using your personal card in exchange for cash.
- Inspect your card after each transaction and ensure it is your card.
- Shield the keypad when entering your PIN.
- Use contactless payment options, such as tap to pay, whenever possible. No PIN is required for contactless payments.
