No licensed Taxi drivers involved in Toronto scam
Police bust suspects masquerading as legitimate Taxi operators
“Legitimate taxi drivers will never refuse cash.”
Detective David Coffey
Toronto police have busted an organized gang now charged with criminal acts in the hundreds of so-called “Taxi scams” which took place over in recent months.
“The scam involved the suspects masquerading as legitimate Taxi operators. The suspects themselves were NOT licensed Taxi drivers,” Detective David Coffey of the Financial Crimes Unit clarified at the very beginning of his remarks at a press conference held on June 19th. Eleven arrests have been made and 108 charges laid in the operation titled Project Fare, which was launched in July 2024 after numerous consumer complaints.
“Before I open it up to questions, I want to emphasize this is NOT an indictment of the legitimate Taxi industry. The individuals involved in this scheme deliberately deceived their victims into believing they were legitimate. Licensed, professional Taxi operators across Toronto continue to provide an essential transportation service for many residents in our city.”
“We’re reminding people to remain vigilant, especially when making card payments. Remember, the legitimate taxi drivers will never refuse cash,” Coffey emphasized.
Toronto Police Services allege that the accused are members of a criminal network responsible for a fraud scheme referred to as the “Taxi scam.” Suspects posed as Taxi drivers using vehicles modified to resemble licensed cabs; victims were picked up and asked to pay for their fare using credit or debit cards. During the transaction, the suspects allegedly swapped the victim’s card with a similar-looking one, retaining the real card and personal identification number. The real card was then passed to accomplices, who used them to withdraw cash, deposit fraudulent cheques to inflate account balances, and purchase high-value merchandise.
“I am really happy with the outcome (of the investigation) and the references the detective made to ensure separation between the fraudsters and the legitimate industry,” Beck Taxi Operations Manager Kristine Hubbard told Taxi News. Licensed Toronto Taxi firms have worked with police and supported this investigation wherever possible.
Coffey pointed out that the Taxi scam goes back “for years,” but that gangs have become more sophisticated over time, using former Taxi cabs as their vehicles and purchasing Taxi roof lights from Amazon. “Some of these are more convincing than others, he notes.
He says that the gangs target the entertainment districts late at night when people are looking for cabs, or tourists who are unsure of Toronto’s legitimate Taxi markings.
“The biggest red flag is a driver who says he does not take cash…as soon as they say, ‘We do not take cash,’ get out of the car because they are not legitimate. Drivers are required by by-law to take cash.”
Below is the full news release as issued by the Toronto Police Service on June 19, 2025:
“News Release
Eleven Arrests made and 108 Charges Laid in Project Fare: a Taxi Scam Investigation
Unit:
Case #: 2024-1659409
Published: Thursday, June 19, 2025, 10:05 AM
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The Toronto Police Service Financial Crimes Unit has arrested 11 individuals and laid more than 100 criminal charges in connection with Project Fare, a comprehensive investigation into a taxi scam targeting unsuspecting victims.
The media conference is available to watch on YouTube.
Allegations:
It is alleged that the accused are members of a criminal network responsible for a fraud scheme referred to as the “taxi scam”. Suspects posed as taxi drivers using vehicles modified to resemble licensed cabs. Victims were picked up and asked to pay for their fare using credit or debit cards. During the transaction, the suspects allegedly swapped the victim’s card with a similar-looking one, retaining the real card and PIN #. The real card was then passed to accomplices, who used them to withdraw cash, deposit fraudulent cheques to inflate account balances, and purchase high-value merchandise.
The investigation began in July 2024 after multiple reports were made to police by victims of the scam. Initially, 61 linked incidents were identified. By the conclusion of the investigation, that number rose to over 300, with total losses to victims exceeding $500,000.
On May 21, 2025, investigators from the Financial Crimes Unit, assisted by officers from 14, 51, 52, 23 and 32 Divisions, executed three search warrants at addresses connected to the accused. In addition to the arrests made, police seized multiple point of sale (P.O.S.) terminals, high-end clothing, electronics, artwork, numerous bank cards, and vehicles resembling taxis. Images of some of the seized items have been released.
Arrests and Charges:
Ekjot NAHAL, 22, of Brampton, was arrested and charged with:
- five counts of Fraud Over $5000
- Possession of Proceeds of Crime over $5000
He was scheduled to appear at the Toronto Regional Bail Centre, 2201 Finch Avenue West, on May 22, 2025, at 10 a.m., in room 106.
Harjoban NAHAL, 25, of Brampton, was arrested and charged with:
- five counts of Fraud Over $5000
- Possession of Proceeds of Crime Over $5000
- Flight While Pursued by Peace Officer
- Dangerous Operation of a Conveyance
- two counts of Operation of a Conveyance while Prohibited
- Breach of Conditional Sentence Order
He was scheduled to appear at the Toronto Regional Bail Centre, 2201 Finch Avenue West, on May 22, 2025, at 10 a.m., in room 106.
Connor WYBENGA, 26, of Toronto, was arrested and charged with:
- five counts of Fraud Over $5000
- Attempt Fraud Over $5000
- Possession of Proceeds of Crime over $5000
- Possession of Proceeds of Crime under $5000
- Unlawfully Deal with Device that could be used for Forgery
He was scheduled to appear at the Toronto Regional Bail Centre, 2201 Finch Avenue West, on May 22, 2025, at 10 a.m., in room 106.
Korbin SONLEY, 22, of Toronto, was arrested and charged with:
- Possession of Proceeds of Crime over $5000
- Possession of Proceeds of Crime under $5000
- Unlawfully Deal with Device that could be used for Forgery
He was scheduled to appear at the Toronto Regional Bail Centre, 2201 Finch Avenue West, on May 22, 2025, at 10 a.m., in room 106.
Michael DENINE, 24, of Newfoundland, was arrested and charged with:
- Possession of Proceeds of Crime over $5000
- Possession of Proceeds of Crime under $5000
- Unlawfully Deal with Device that could be used for Forgery
He was scheduled to appear at the Toronto Regional Bail Centre, 2201 Finch Avenue West, on May 22, 2025, at 10 a.m., in room 106.
Harpreet HARPREET SINGH, 24, of Brampton, was arrested and charged with:
- three counts of Fraud over $5000
- nine counts of Fraud under $5000
- 12 counts of Possession of Property Obtained by Crime under $5000
- Possession of Proceeds of Crime over $5000
- Obstruct Peace Officer
- two counts of Possession of Instruments to be Used to Commit Forgery
- Unauthorized Use of Credit Card Data
- Attempt Fraud over $5000
He is scheduled to appear at the Ontario Court of Justice, 10 Armoury Street, on July 15, 2025, at 11 a.m., in room 203.
Luis COLLADO, 24 years, of Mississauga, was arrested and charged with:
- Fraud over $5000
- three counts of Fraud under $5000
- Attempt Fraud under $5000
- five counts of Possession of Property Obtained by Crime under $5000
- Possession of Instruments to be Used to Commit Forgery
- Unauthorized Use of Credit Card Data
He is scheduled to appear at the Ontario Court of Justice, 10 Armoury Street, on July 15, 2025, at 11 a.m., in room 203.
Reazuddin SHAIKH, 50, of Toronto, was arrested and charged with:
- three counts of Fraud over $5000
- six counts of Fraud Under $5000
- Attempt Fraud Under $5000
- eight counts of Possession of Property Obtained by Crime under $5000
- Possession of instruments to be Used to Commit Forgery
- Unauthorized Use of Credit Card Data
He is scheduled to appear at the Ontario Court of Justice, 10 Armoury Street, on July 11, 2025, at 11 a.m., in room 203.
Anastasia ZACHAROPOULOS JOHNSTON, 19, of Vaughan, was arrested and charged with:
- Fraud over $5000
- Fraud under $5000
- Possession of Proceeds of Crime over $5000
- Possession of Proceeds of Crime under $5000
- two counts of Possession of Property Obtained by Crime under $5000
She is scheduled to appear at the Ontario Court of Justice, 10 Armoury Street, on June 26, 2025, at 9 a.m., in room 203.
Gurnoor Singh RANDHAWA, 20, of No Fixed Address, was arrested and charged with:
- Fail to Comply with Release Order
- two counts of Possession of Property Obtained by Crime under $5000
- two counts of Possess Credit Card Obtained by Offence
He was scheduled to appear at the Toronto Regional Bail Centre, 2201 Finch Avenue West, on January 19, 2025, at 10 a.m., in room 105.
Gaurav TAAK, 23, of Brampton, was arrested and charged with:
- Possession of Property Obtained by Crime over $5000
- Possession of instruments to be Used to Commit Forgery
He was scheduled to appear at the Ontario Court of Justice, 10 Armoury Street, on September 26, 2024, at 11 a.m., in room 203.
Investigators are seeking the public’s assistance in identifying two male individuals believed to be suspects:
- Suspect #1 is described as male, 5’7″ – 5’10″ tall, 25-35 years old, brown eyes, with a medium build, short black hair, and a trimmed black beard.
- Suspect #2 is described as male, 5’7″– 6’0″ tall, in his 20s, with brown eyes, a medium build, and thin facial hair.
Images of the suspects have been released.
Police are also looking to identify a female who is being considered a person-of-interest. Images of the unknown female have been released. She is not considered a suspect, and police believe she has information that would assist in the identification of the outstanding male suspects.
Anyone with information is asked to contact police at 416-808-2510, Crime Stoppers anonymously at 416-222-TIPS (8477), or at www.222tips.com. Individuals with information can also contact the officer-in-charge of the investigation Dana Clark at 416-808-7318 or Dana.Clark@tps.ca.”
