Toronto Police Service Det. David Coffey is pictured at a new conference June 19 about the arrest of 11 people in connection with a taxi scam in the city. Around him are items police seized as part of the investigation. – Photo by Sam Nar, courtesy of the Toronto Police ServiceArticle contentA 24-year-old Newfoundland man arrested by Toronto police as part of a reported taxi scam made a short appearance in court this week.THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY.Subscribe now to access this story and more:Unlimited access to the website and appExclusive access to premium content, newsletters and podcastsFull access to the e-Edition app, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment onEnjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalistsSupport local journalists and the next generation of journalistsSUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES.Subscribe or sign in to your account to continue your reading experience.Unlimited access to the website and appExclusive access to premium content, newsletters and podcastsFull access to the e-Edition app, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment onEnjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalistsSupport local journalists and the next generation of journalistsRegister to unlock more articles.Create an account or sign in to continue your reading experience.Access additional stories every monthShare your thoughts and join the conversation in our commenting communityGet email updates from your favourite authorsSign In or Create an AccountorArticle contentMichael Denine appeared by video in the Ontario Court of Justice’s Armoury Street courthouse Tuesday, June 24, 2025. His case was rescheduled for July 15 for an update.Article contentArticle contentDenine is one of 11 people members of the Toronto Police Service have arrested and charged with a total of 108 offences in connection with Project Fare: an investigation into a taxi scam that began nearly a year ago, sparked by multiple complaints.Article contentArticle contentDenine has been charged with one count of possession of proceeds of crime over $5,000, one count of possession of proceeds of crime under $5,000, and one count of unlawfully dealing with a device that could be used for forgery.Article content Eleven people have been arrested and charged in connection with a reported taxi scam in the Toronto area.- Photo courtesy of the Toronto Police ServiceArticle contentArticle contentVEHICLES MADE TO LOOK LIKE LEGITIMATE TAXISArticle contentTPS Detective David Coffey said at a media conference June 19 that scammers driving vehicles made to look like legitimate Toronto taxis tricked passengers into thinking they were legitimate licensed cab drivers, picking them up – mostly late in the evening – and asking them to pay for the ride with a credit or debit card.Article content“First (the passengers) are denied cash; they’re told, ‘We prefer debit or credit’,” Coffey explained. “They’re then handed a POS machine. Sometimes the POS machine won’t work. They’ll have their card in the machine and the taxi driver will say, ‘Let me try.’”Article contentArticle contentThe scammers then secretly switched the victim’s card out with an identical one.Article content“The real card and their PIN was then passed on to (the scammers’) accomplices,” Coffey said. “These fraudsters used the stolen cards and PINs to withdraw funds from ATMs, deposit fraudulent cheques to artificially inflate account balances, and made high-value purchases, including electronics, gift cards and luxury clothing.”Article contentPolice displayed some of the items at the news conference, including designer handbags, sneakers, puffer vests and jewelry, as well as hand-held POS systems and debit and credit cards.Article contentThere was also an art piece featuring characters Mr. Monopoly and Richie Ritch riding down a Toronto street in an orange taxi with cash and credit cards spilling out, followed by a black TPS car. On the sidewalk, a masked person dressed head-to-toe in a Dior-branded tracksuit stands next to an ATM machine.
NL man makes court appearance on charges related to Toronto taxi scam
