As the year winds down, scammers aren’t taking a break as they continue to target vulnerable individuals through a mix of in-person schemes and online fraud.

Here are three scams circulating in Ontario in December:

Fake taxi scam

A scam involving fake taxi drivers has been reported in mall parking lots, where victims are approached by someone posing as a stranded passenger.

The scam typically involves two people. One person pretends to need help paying a taxi fare, and another poses as a taxi driver who claims they only accept debit cards.

Victims are asked to tap or insert their card, at which point the card is secretly swapped for another one from the same financial institution.

Fraudsters then use portable payment terminals to capture PIN numbers before withdrawing cash and making additional fraudulent purchases.

In a recent incident in Brampton, Peel Regional Police provided these tips to residents to safeguard themselves from such scams:

• Remain vigilant when approached by unknown individuals, particularly during the holiday season.
• Know that legitimate taxi drivers will not refuse cash, and will not remove your card from sight or ask for your PIN.
• If circumstances present as unusual, trust your instincts, do not follow through with the transaction and report it to police.

Bank investment scam

An investment scam is targeting seniors and other residents through phone calls and online communications.

Victims are contacted by fraudsters posing as financial institution representatives and are directed to professional-looking websites that mimic legitimate investment platforms. In some cases, victims believe they are purchasing guaranteed investment products, only to later discover the platforms are fraudulent.

The Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre warns that scammers often impersonate trusted financial brands and use publicly available professional information to appear legitimate. Residents are urged to independently verify investment opportunities before transferring funds.

Cryptocurrency scam

Fraudsters are targeting victims with fake cryptocurrency investment opportunities, often posing as representatives from trusted financial institutions or using professional-looking websites to appear legitimate.

Victims are convinced to transfer large sums of money, believing they are purchasing secure or guaranteed crypto investments, only to discover the platforms are fraudulent and the funds have been moved overseas.

—With files from Ryan Rumbolt and Declan Finucane.