“Fake Taxi scams” featured on CTV segment August 27

CTA president Marc Andre Way provides consumers information, warnings

CTV Toronto’s 6pm news will feature a segment on the Fake Taxi scams which have occurred in multiple Canadian cities this summer.

Canadian Taxi Association president Marc Andre Way is featured on the segment, providing information and advice to consumers on how to avoid being ripped off by criminals and conmen posing as Taxi drivers in order to compromise victims’ debit and credit cards.

Police in Toronto, Sarnia, Sudbury and Ottawa have issued warnings to consumers to beware of the scam, which is usually perpetrated by two people: one poses as a distressed fare, the other as the Taxi driver. The CTA worked directly with Ottawa police earlier in August to provide information on the scam, and Way has provided numerous media interviews to inform consumers how to spot a fake Taxi.

Way wrote to the CEO of Amazon on August 9th to ask Amazon to stop selling generic “Taxi” roof light signs, which may be used to fool the public into thinking a vehicle is a municipally-licensed Taxi.

“Traditionally in Canadian cities, branded roof signs were available only through specialty shops which supplied the Taxi industry. The sellers knew who was making the purchase; for which Taxi brokerage the person drove; and in most cases, also installed the roof sign on the legitimate vehicle,” Way wrote in his letter.

“However, the generic signs being sold through Amazon and other outlets are available to anyone. This is not a safe, practical way to distribute the trusted ‘Taxi’ signs which have become synonymous with physical and consumer safety for over a century.

“On behalf of the Taxi industry in Canada, I am requesting that Amazon to consider no longer selling generic ‘Taxi’ signs. We all fear that something much worse than a financial scam will be enabled by the disingenuous use of these Taxi signs by individuals who would misuse them to physically harm innocent persons. Please assure us you will act before this happens.

Taxi News contacted Amazon regarding the sale of generic “Taxi” signs and the dangers associated with them and received the following reply from Octavia Roufogalis of Amazon Canada:

“Safety is a top priority at Amazon, and we require all products offered in our store to comply with applicable laws and regulations. These lights are legal to sell in Canada and as a result can be listed for sale in the Amazon.ca store. Unfortunately, like many products, these products can be misused. Amazon will continue to monitor the situation and adapt to any developments on regulation and compliance of these items.”