Reported

Ottawa police warn of debit card swap scam targeting people helping strangers

Ottawa police say a scam targeting residents who help strangers with taxi or food delivery payments has been spreading in Ottawa. Suspects switch the victim's debit card for a fake one during the transaction and then withdraw money from the real account.

By voche.me editorsPublished Thursday, October 29, 2026 at 11:30 am ET2 min read · 2 sources

Reported. A news outlet found this. voche.me names the outlet and links its report. Read the original report on ottawa.citynews.ca.

Ottawa Police Service is warning residents about a scam where suspects ask members of the public to help pay for a taxi or food delivery, then switch the victim's debit card for a fake and withdraw money from the real account. CityNews Ottawa reported the warning on October 27.

How the scam works

CityNews Ottawa reported that Ottawa police describe the scam starting when a person approaches a member of the public in a public place and says a taxi driver will not accept cash. The suspect offers to give the victim cash if the victim pays the taxi fee by debit card.

When the victim inserts their card into the payment machine and enters their PIN, the suspect switches the real card for a similar-looking fake one. The victim leaves with a fake card, not knowing the switch happened. The suspect then uses the real debit card to withdraw money from the victim's bank account.

Scammers have added a food delivery version

Ottawa police said the original taxi version of the scam has been active in Ottawa for more than a year. CityNews Ottawa reported that because more residents have become aware of it, suspects have now created the same scam with food or pizza delivery as the cover story. The same card-switching technique is used in both versions.

"Be cautious if someone asks them to pay for a stranger's taxi fare or food delivery using their debit card in exchange for cash," Ottawa police said, according to CityNews Ottawa.

What Ottawa police advise

According to CityNews Ottawa, Ottawa Police Service advises residents to:

Never hand your debit card to a stranger for this type of request.
Only use licensed taxi services and make sure the vehicle is properly marked.
Use an app-based payment method instead of a physical debit card when possible.

Residents who believe they have been victims of this scam should contact Ottawa Police Service and their bank immediately to cancel the affected card. Full police warnings are at ottawapolice.ca.

Questions this story answers

What is the debit card swap scam Ottawa police are warning about?

CityNews Ottawa reported that Ottawa Police Service is warning about a scam where a person approaches a member of the public and says a taxi or food delivery driver will not accept cash. The person offers to give the victim cash if they pay by debit card instead. At some point during the transaction, the suspect switches the victim's real debit card for a similar-looking fake one. The suspect also gets the PIN, then uses the real card to withdraw money from the victim's bank account.

Has this scam changed recently?

CityNews Ottawa reported that Ottawa police said the taxi version of the scam has been going on in Ottawa for more than a year. Because more residents have become aware of it, scammers have now created a version using food or pizza delivery as the setup. The same card-switching technique is used in both versions. Police said this is why they are putting out a new warning: the scam is still active and has changed its cover story.

What should I do if someone asks me to pay their taxi or delivery fee?

According to CityNews Ottawa, Ottawa Police Service says residents should not hand over their debit card to a stranger for this type of request. Police advise only using licensed taxi services and making sure any taxi vehicle is properly marked. When possible, pay with an app-based payment method instead of a physical debit card. If someone makes this type of request, Ottawa police ask residents to be cautious and decline.

How does the card switch happen?

CityNews Ottawa reported that Ottawa police described the switch happening when the victim inserts their card into the payment machine. After the PIN is entered, the suspect swaps the real card for a similar-looking one at some point during the transaction. The victim walks away with a fake card and does not know their real card has been taken. The suspect then uses the real card to withdraw money from the bank account.

Who should I contact if I think I have been a victim of this scam in Ottawa?

Ottawa Police Service handles fraud reports in Ottawa. Residents who believe they have been victims of this debit card swap scam should contact Ottawa police and their bank immediately to cancel the card and report the fraud. The sooner the card is cancelled, the less money a suspect can withdraw.

Is this a scam that happens only in certain parts of Ottawa?

CityNews Ottawa reported that Ottawa police issued their warning for Ottawa broadly, without naming a specific part of the city where the scam is concentrated. The warning described encounters happening in public places, near where taxis or delivery services would normally be present.

What are 'Good Samaritan' scams?

CityNews Ottawa reported that Ottawa police use the term 'Good Samaritan scam' for fraud methods that rely on the victim's desire to help a stranger. The scam works because the victim believes they are helping someone who cannot pay a taxi or delivery fee. Police are warning residents that this good intention is what the scam targets.

Where can I find more information about scam warnings in Ottawa?

Ottawa Police Service issues fraud and scam warnings on its website and through news outlets. CityNews Ottawa covers Ottawa police press releases, including this one about the debit card swap scam. Residents can follow Ottawa police announcements to stay up to date on new scam activity.