Taxi scammers are conning Torontonians again. This woman wants you to know the warning signs

UPDATE: Toronto police saya 14-year-old boy has been arrested in connection with an ongoing taxi scam investigation. Read more here.

Saja Kilani didn't think twice when she was stoppedon the street Sunday by a young boy asking for help paying his cab fare.

The boy told Kilani the driver only took card payments and that he only had cash.If shepaid the driver, the boy would pay herback, she recalls him telling her.

"My first thought is... if someone is in a desperate situation, I would want someone to help me in that situation," said Kilani, who's from Toronto.

Despite her willingness to help, red flags kept popping up. First, the driver asked for her card. When she handed it over, the boy tried to get her attention bybombarding her with questions. Then, when she put in her PINand reached to take her card back, the driver snatched the machine away and returned a cardthat didn't haveher name on it.

That's when she realized what happened, got her actual card backand cancelled it soon after. But not everyone isso lucky.

"I know it's hard to admit that I've fallen for a scam, but I'd rather admit that and have people not go through it," said Kilani.

"If I had seen this online before I would have avoided it."

That's what led Kilani to post her experience on TikTok. In just one day, shegotmore than800,000 views,75,000 likesand over 2,000 comments on her post, which includes part of her encounter with the alleged scammer.

It even caught the attention of Meaghan Onorato, who put up a similarpost that went viral in May on the same platform after getting scammed in a similar way. In her case, she lost $1,400 before her bank refunded it.

"I'm not surprised, but it's really saddening, I think, to hear that it's still happening to people," said Onorato.

Kilaniand Onorato fell victim to a textbooktaxi cab scam when drivers, often with an accomplice, stealcustomers' card information by distracting them then swapping it with a different card. While this type of scam isn't new, Toronto police Const. Marco Ricciardisays the service has seen a "pretty significant" increase, and anyone could be a victim.

"You have to be aware that if someone is saying that their taxi cab is not accepting cash, that's the first flag," said Ricciardi.

Most of these scams take place duringnormal business hours, and inplaces like plazas and malls, he says.While some scammers use fake taxi signs or stickers to fool customers,there's no common profile for perpetrators the only thing they have in common, Ricciardi says, is trying to make a "quick buck."

All licensed taxi companies take cash, say police

"They'll try to hit your limit as soon as they can, and they'll make purchases at various locations," said Ricciardi.

"And they will continue to use it until there's nothing left in the account."

Ricciardi says people should keep an eye out for cabbies who saytheydon't take cash, since all licensed taxicompanies take cash as payment. And ifyou do fall victim to this scam, make sure to report it to your bank and the police, he says.

But if you find yourself questioningif a cab is legit, Ricciardi has this advice:

"Just walk away, because it's going to save you a lot of heartache and a lot of money."