Two Toronto taxi drivers face have been charged with fraud after their customers’ debit cards were switched with other cards during the payment process.
Police said they launched an investigation into several of these allegations in the fall of 2015.
According to police, as the taxi customer handed their card to the driver to pay the fare, the driver would switch the customer’s card for one that resembled their own.
Police allege the customer’s card was then used by the taxi driver to withdraw funds and purchase retail items.
Police have identified the first suspect as 26-year-old Toronto resident Muhammad Tariq. The man was arrested and charged with three counts of fraud under $5000, three counts of possessing credit card obtained by crime and forgery.
A second suspect identified as 25-year-old Toronto resident Ahmed Dogar was arrested and charged with theft of credit card, six counts of possessing credit card obtained by crime, five counts of fraud under $5000, fraud over $5000 and three counts of forgery.
Both were scheduled to make an appearance in court on Tuesday at 1 p.m.
Anyone with information is asked to contact police at 416-808-7239 or Crime Stoppers anonymously at 416-222-TIPS (8477).
