Ottawa police warn residents to be cautious when approached by individuals asking to use their debit or credit card to pay for a taxi or ride-share.

The police say they have received complaints from people who were scammed after offering to help a stranger pay for a ride.

The scam involves someone approaching the victim and asking if they can pay for the taxi fare or ride-share because the driver does not accept cash. Cash is offered to the victim in exchange for paying the fare with their card.

The police state: "If the victim agrees, they are taken to a nearby taxi to complete the transaction using their credit/debit card. Upon completion of the transaction, the driver switches the victim's credit/debit card with a fake card and secretly obtains the PIN. The victim's card is then used to complete fraudulent transactions."