Toronto (August 10, 2020) – The Toronto police arrested Harjoban Nahal, a taxi-driver from Brampton, as the result of a five-year taxi debit card fraud investigation. The police accused Nahal of switching his costumers’ debit cards after they paid the taxi fare and emptying their bank accounts. He is facing 30 charges. Investigators are concerned there may be more victims.
The fraud unit at Toronto police 52 Division arrested Harjoban Nahal from Brampton for a taxi debit card fraud scheme, according to a press release from August 6. The taxi driver is charged with 30 offenses.
Taxi debit card fraud case
The Toronto police started the investigation in the fall of 2015, when they first received reports about taxi customers having their debit cards switched after having paid their fare.
In their press release, the investigators described that they allege the taxi driver would switch the customer’s card for one that resembled their financial institution. After the taxi driver obtained the debit card, it was used to purchase retail merchandise and empty bank accounts.
Three weeks ago, the Toronto police already issued a public safety alert against the taxi scam and advised taxi customers to inspect their payment cards after each transaction to ensure it is their own card.
Caught in the act after five-year investigation
On August 5, a man was observed taking the debit card from a taxi customer in downtown Toronto, police said. Subsequently, they seized counterfeit identification, debit cards, and a 2015 red Nissan Sentra.
As a result, they arrested Nahal on the same day. The 21-year-old has been charged with six counts of fraud under $5,000, fraud over $5,000, five counts of possession of credit card obtained by crime, possess instruments of forgery, possess counterfeit money, possession of property obtained by crime under $5,000, six counts possess credit obtained by crime, seven counts of theft of credit card, dangerous operation of motor vehicle, and fail to stop for police.
He was scheduled to appear in court in Toronto on August 6. The police said that the investigation is still ongoing and that they are concerned there may be more victims.
Police would like to remind the public to be vigilant when using debit cards to pay taxi fares and advised taxi customers to always maintain possession of their payment cards and ensure to request a receipt.
Investigators asked anyone with information to contact police at 416-808-5200, or Crime Stoppers anonymously at 416-222-TIPS (8477).
Read more: Toronto cabbie facing multiple charges in taxi debit-card fraud
