The Sarnia Police Service says at least two people have fallen victim to a scam involving a fake taxi cab in the city.
Police said both incidents, involving a black sedan, happened on Sunday, July 14 in the commercial corridor on London Road, between Murphy Road and Lambton Mall Road.
In the first case, a man with a young child situated beside the vehicle approached the victim and asked them to help pay $6 for the child to take the cab.
Police said the victim paid using his debit card, and later learned his card had been defrauded of $3,800 in unwanted, fraudulent, purchases. In the second incident, a man was approached by two others in a black sedan.
The passenger in the vehicle told the victim he booked a cab only to learn that the driver did not accept cash.
It's alleged he asked for help and got the victim to use his debit card for the purchase. Police said the victim agreed, and the passenger gave him $10 in cash for the $7.50 debit purchase.
The victim later learned that his card had been used for $2,400 in unwanted, fraudulent, purchases. The Sarnia Police Service is asking that members of the public who may have been approached by these individuals, to notify them of the time and location of the incident.
Police said this will assist in obtaining better video of the individuals responsible for these frauds.
Det. Cst. Pat Moloney can be contacted at (519) 344-8861 ext. 6239. The Sarnia Police Service are also advising the public to never use a credit or debit card unless they are doing so at reputable businesses.