Kingston Police Warn Public About Food Delivery Scam Targeting Bank Cards and PINs

September 10, 2026

Police are warning members of the public about a fraud involving individuals posing as food delivery drivers and customers in an effort to obtain bank card and PIN number information.

In several recent reported incidents happening throughout the Kingston area, two individuals appeared to be involved in a coordinated scam, where one individual posed as a customer while the other posed as a food delivery driver.

The customer approached the victim and claimed their payment card was not working. The customer asked the victim to pay for their food using a PIN payment terminal associated with the delivery driver. The customer provided cash to the victim, while the victim was instructed to use their bank card on the PIN reader.

During the transaction, the victim's bank card was switched with another card. The victim then entered their PIN into the payment terminal, unknowingly providing the suspects with access to both their card and PIN.

After the transaction the stolen debit cards were used to make cash withdrawals, deposits of bad cheques and retail purchases.

Warning Signs

Police are reminding the public to be cautious if approached in circumstances similar to this incident. Potential warning signs include:

• The vehicle does not display identifiable food-delivery markings or decals.
• The delivery driver asks you to keep or hold the PIN payment terminal inside their vehicle.
• The person requesting assistance is unable to provide clear or specific information about the food order.
• The individual requesting payment does not appear to live in the area or provides inconsistent information.
• You are asked to enter your PIN into a payment terminal when you did not initiate the transaction yourself.
• A person asks you to use your bank card on their payment terminal in exchange for cash.

Protect Yourself

Police are reminding residents that you should never give your bank card or PIN to another person or enter your PIN into a payment terminal when you are unsure who is operating the transaction.

If someone asks you to pay for their food or another purchase using your debit or credit card in exchange for cash, consider declining the request. A legitimate delivery driver should not require you to provide your banking information or PIN to facilitate another person's purchase.

If you believe your card has been switched or compromised:

1. Contact your financial institution immediately and report the incident.
2. Cancel the affected card and request a replacement.
3. Change your PIN if appropriate.
4. Monitor your account for unauthorized transactions.
5. Report the incident to Kingston Police

If you believe you have been affected by this act of fraud, contact Kingston Police at 613-549-4660 ext. 0. 

You can also provide tips anonymously by calling the Kingston Police general number 613-549-4660 ext. 0 and asking to remain anonymous.