October 14, 2025
RED FM News Desk
York Regional Police have charged two men in connection with a taxi payment scam and are appealing for additional victims to come forward.
On Friday, September 26, 2025, at approximately 8:44 p.m., officers responded to a suspicious vehicle call at a commercial plaza near Colossus Drive and Famous Avenue in Vaughan.
According to investigators, a complainant was approached by a male; believed at first to be a youth, who asked for help paying a taxi fare. The suspect claimed the taxi driver, operating a black Honda Civic, would not accept his payment and asked the complainant to tap their credit card on the machine instead. The complainant declined and left as he became suspicious.
The complainant obtained the licence plate and officers determined the licence plate to be stolen.
A short time later, officers located the suspect vehicle at another commercial plaza near Applewood Crescent and Portage Parkway. Police followed the vehicle to a plaza in the area of Islington Avenue and Rexdale Boulevard in Toronto, where they observed the same two suspects attempting to defraud another victim. Both men were taken into custody.
Investigators allege that the suspects would distract victims during the payment process and secretly swap their debit or credit cards with stolen ones. The stolen cards were then used to withdraw funds from victims’ bank accounts before they realized what had happened.
The accused have been identified as Weheliye Rage, 34, and Osaze Ebagua, 19, both from Brampton. They are facing multiple charges, including seven counts of possession of stolen property not exceeding $5,000, obtaining by false pretence not exceeding $5,000, and disguise with intent. Police has released the images of the suspects.
Police believe there may be additional victims and are urging anyone with information to contact the York Regional Police #4 District Criminal Investigations Bureau at 1-866-876-5423, ext. 7441.
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