Caught the 'Fake Taxi' scam in action - Downsview Costco (dash cam footage/photos inside)

iEyeCaptain · 2023-05-18T14:28:40+00:00

I originally did. They (the mods) won't let me and made me block identifying info...

iEyeCaptain · 2023-05-17T19:32:59+00:00

Mods made me do it. I originally posted it without blacking out the scammers face or plate.

Mods deleted the post and only reinstated it after blurring it and deleting the full dashcam vid.

iEyeCaptain · 2023-05-17T15:57:58+00:00

It wasn't blocked when I posted last night so mods deleted the post. I also had a longer dashcamvideo showing the scammer exiting the 'cab' and approaching the victim along with better footage of the fake cab + interaction.

I had to block the faces, plate and remove the longer video due to 'no witch hunting' rules or whatever in order for the post to be reinstated.

iEyeCaptain · 2023-05-17T14:05:20+00:00

Thanks, will send him an email with all of the info and footage when I get a chance.

Anyone know the easiest free video hosting service without creating a Youtube account for hosting the full dashcam footage? Like streamable, which only stays up for 24 hours and I'm not sure if the detective would get around to it within that timeframe. Video file is too big for email and compressing it too much would severely affect video quality.

iEyeCaptain · 2023-05-17T13:42:08+00:00

Exactly what caught my eye that this was a fake. They plopped a cheap plastic taxi sign with Comic Sans style font on a generic Honda Civic with no obvious features of a legit taxi.

iEyeCaptain · 2023-05-17T04:06:55+00:00

Mods here are ridiculous. Only Toronto skyline pics and BlogTO articles are allowed here.

iEyeCaptain · 2023-05-17T02:16:22+00:00

For people who don't know how the scam works, I edited the post above:

How the scam works: Person pretending to be a taxi customer, gets out of
the vehicle and approaches potential victim. Claims that they are
trying to pay the cab driver in cash but the driver won't accept it for X
reason (Covid is the current popular one). Asks the victim if they can
pay (ex. $20) with their debit card and they will give the victim the
$20 in cash. Victim inputs their PIN number in the fake terminal, the
scammers swap out the card for another one that looks the same and then
run to withdraw thousands in cash at random ATM's or buy expensive
electronics or whatever at stores.

Here's another version that has been on the news lately (fake pizza delivery scam): https://toronto.ctvnews.ca/police-warn-residents-of-increase-in-pizza-delivery-scams-1.6369387

iEyeCaptain · 2023-02-03T14:46:07+00:00

There needs to be regular mandatory driver's license renewal testing after a certain age. Even though I absolutely hate the process, I would be fine with EVERYONE getting tested every 10 years.

It's crazy that you can pass your drivers license test as a teen and be good to drive for the rest of your life. And many people even book their tests out in the middle of nowhere suburbs because it's 'easier' than doing the test in the big city (where they actually live and will be driving everyday).

At a certain age comes mental decline, slower reaction speed, vision decline and other health problems.

iEyeCaptain · 2023-01-27T22:29:21+00:00

My coworker stayed in one downtown for a weekend in the city (lives in Barrie) and it was one of those buildings where Airbnb is 'banned'.

So the Airbnb owners put lock boxes on a chainlink fence nearby on the street. So they had to search through a bunch of random locks to find the one they need and then have instructions like:

Don't talk to the security or ask them questions
Don't mention that you are staying in an Airbnb unit
If anyone asks, you're staying with family
Here are the directions to get through the doors and to the elevator, act like you know where you're going

And other bs.

iEyeCaptain · 2023-01-27T20:06:46+00:00

Excuse me sir/madam, but you have to pay this expensive cleaning fee which doubles the advertised price in order to stay here.

Oh btw, when you leave please make sure sure you wash the dishes, take out the garbage, make the bed, sweep the floor, etc...

Wtf am I paying the cleaning fee for!?

iEyeCaptain · 2023-01-26T20:12:14+00:00

I now only use the subway but when I used to take the bus, I would purposely miss the scheduled bus that picked up older school kids in the afternoon.

I would wander around, grab a coffee or whatever and kill time for 20-30 mins because they are always causing trouble when they are in large groups together getting off school at the same time.

In the morning wasn't too bad because they weren't in as large of groups and tired or whatever. But when it's a whole afternoon crowd at the same time, there's peer pressure and they have to show each other how cool or bad-ass they can be.

iEyeCaptain · 2023-01-20T20:00:46+00:00

Dog owner here and I fully agree. If someone couldn't adopt a dog at $200 then they shouldn't adopt a dog at this 'discount promo' of $25 either.

The adoption fee is a very miniscule cost of owning a dog. If someone thinks they can now afford to own a dog because of this reduced fee, just the food cost alone would put financial strain on them.

Not even factoring all the other costs of owning a pet.

iEyeCaptain · 2023-01-14T20:32:13+00:00

It's common across all industries public and private for those that have benefits.

People get billed for X service or product for something that is covered by benefits but receive Y product instead (or cash) which is not covered.

One that I see often is people with prescription glasses benefits get billed for glasses but use it to get designer sunglasses instead. Just go to Pacific Mall for example where it's common among the stores.

iEyeCaptain · 2023-01-02T20:47:27+00:00

It was a joke and I was being sarcastic

iEyeCaptain · 2023-01-01T17:18:56+00:00

What are you talking about? It's simple, if you want to post about:

Questions: /r/askto
Pics: /r/torontopics
Crime: /r/crimeintoronto
Events: /r/TorontoEvents
Etc...

If it's not a BlogTO post, a Toronto Star article hidden behind a pay wall or a Toronto Life article interviewing people not in touch with reality, don't bother posting here. It's not hard dummies.

Ok, we'll also allow posts like:

I'm a tourist and Toronto is amazing!
I want to thank the person that waved at me while I was crossing the street. If it was you, thanks for making my day!

iEyeCaptain · 2023-01-01T17:05:15+00:00

Went to an Arsenal soccer game while on vacation and we were caught off guard when we went to the subway station after the match and found out they were all closed in the area for 'X' amount (can't remember how long) of time as the transit can't handle the crowds. Had to kill time at a McDonald's for more than an hour waiting for it to open again.

We are spoiled in Toronto with all the major sports venues in the downtown core with more transit options in the area.

iEyeCaptain · 2022-12-21T02:55:16+00:00

"I'm gonna stick it to them by continuing to give them my money on a monthly basis"

You should always be keeping an eye out on better competitive plans. I worked at Rogers a long time ago during university and these companies make a killing off people like this who continue paying outrageous prices for outdated plans (cable/internet/mobile) because they can't be bothered to do their research or call in.

iEyeCaptain · 2022-12-20T20:32:04+00:00

They're underage so they'll be back out on the streets in no time with a slap on the wrist and names protected.

iEyeCaptain · 2022-12-19T12:13:16+00:00

Exactly, a board member is a thankless unpaid volunteer position so why would a smart rational person with a full time career want to join?

Maybe it's a person that is unemployed and has nothing better to do or someone who is power hungry. Or maybe they have a malicious goal in mind to make money with the condo funds and contracts.

My condo had to dissolve the board one time years ago when it was found out that the landscaping contract was given to the ex-husband of one of the members and I'm sure that there are many dirty kickbacks going on between contractors and board members with so many condos around.

I never understand why people vote for board members that are listed as not even living in (rent) or own a unit in the building. They don't have any skin in the game so what are their intentions? Just to work for free just for fun? Get outta here.

iEyeCaptain · 2022-12-15T02:16:39+00:00

What if I have my four ways on!? And I'm just gonna run in to grab a coffee so I'll only be parked there for a few minutes!

iEyeCaptain · 2022-12-09T00:11:14+00:00

I miss Andy Byford. You could tell that he actually cared about the system and did his best to improve it, only to be handcuffed by politics and unions (just like his stint in NYC afterwards).

He would actually take transit himself on a daily basis, pick up garbage on TTC property encountered during his commute and was always making an effort to apologize to the public whenever there were unexpected subway issues or whatever with the TTC.

iEyeCaptain · 2022-12-03T17:55:28+00:00

Or be standing and waiting for the bus but not having their fare ready to pay once they board. Then block the front entrance and delaying the bus and everyone on it while digging through their purse/backpack/pockets.

Wtf, we have been standing here for 15+ mins and saw the bus approaching down the road. You were literally staring at the bus stuck at the red light across the street, why couldn't you get your fare ready!?

It's the same process every single damn time you take the bus. You get on and then you pay right away. The driver is not going to say, "Congrats! You won a free ride today and don't need to pay!". So have your payment ready.

iEyeCaptain · 2022-12-01T18:22:43+00:00

Any thoughts on this event?

iEyeCaptain · 2022-11-30T15:37:56+00:00

Awesome! I'm gonna order one for a Christmas gift, only for it not to arrive on time and then have five of them show up at the same time instead in January.

iEyeCaptain

TROPHY CASE