GTA fake taxi fraud masterminds defrauded people by using an illegal cab and posing as vulnerable-looking passengers
The Canadian Bazaar
BRAMPTON: Three Brampton men have been arrested for defrauding people in excess of $37,000 in a GTA fake taxi fraud. Hunt is on for the fourth man.
The suspects –Imran Kayani, Ounali Hussain and Syed Ali Hussain – cheated people by running a fake taxi service throughout the Greater Toronto Area by using a decommissioned taxi cab which was not owned or operated by any GTA taxi companies.
Peel Regional Police, in cooperation with police services in Toronto, Halton, Hamilton and York, have found over 35 cases of debit card theft and frauds by the suspects.
According to police, the suspects would operate the taxi with one posing as its driver and the other posing as a rear seat passenger. Posing as a vulnerable-looking person, the rear seat passenger would approach the victims and ask for help to pay the fare because the driver won’t take cash because of Covid-19 contact limitations. He would offer cash in exchange for the victim using their debit card to pay the fare.
The victims would insert their debit card into a terminal that was modified to capture the victim’s personal identification number (PIN) number, which was then followed by the taxi driver secretly swapping the victims card with a previously exploited debit card. The suspects would then use the stolen card and PIN to make large cash withdrawals and purchases.
Imran Kayani, 22, Ounali Hussain, 20, and Syed Ali Hussain, 28, have been charged with various offences, including fraud under $5,000 each, theft under $5,000 each, possession of a device to obtain unauthorized use of a computer system, possession of property obtained by crime, possessing/trafficking in credit card data and obstruct peace officer.
Imran Kayani and Syed Ali Hussain were on a judicial release at the time of these alleged incidents.
The fourth suspect who is 17 and cannot be named because of the Youth Criminal Justice Act (Y.C.J.A.), has been charged with 44 offences, including including fraud under $5,000 each, theft under $5,000 each, possession of a device to obtain unauthorized use of a computer system, possession of property obtained by crime, unauthorized use of credit card data and failing to comply with undertaking
Searches were conducted on two residences and vehicles for evidence used to commit these offences.
“This has been a difficult year for many who are suffering through personal and financial pressures created by the pandemic. Despite these challenges, people from our community agreed to help someone else and were victimized for their kindness” said Nick Milinovich, Deputy Chief of Investigative and Emergency Services in Peel Regional Police.
“It is satisfying to see this end, and our police service will continue to work diligently to hold offenders accountable for their actions and protect those that live, work or visit Peel Region.”
Investigators are asking any more victims to contact their local police service.
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