Waterloo Regional Police Investigate Card Swap in Cambridge Food Delivery Scam

Waterloo Regional Police are investigating a food delivery scam in Cambridge after a person's bank card was swapped and used for fraudulent purchases. Police said the incident began outside a store on Pinebush Road on October 26, 2026.

The victim was leaving the store when a woman standing beside an SUV approached them, police said. The woman claimed she could not pay for a fast-food delivery because her payment card was stored on her phone, and asked for help completing the transaction.

According to police, the victim approached the SUV, where a man was operating what appeared to be a debit payment terminal. Police said the two suspects swapped the victim's card during the transaction. The victim later discovered that the card had been replaced and used for fraudulent purchases.

Police offer prevention tips

Waterloo Regional Police are asking the public to consider several precautions to help avoid a similar scam:

• Do not leave a debit or credit card unattended in a payment terminal.
• If a terminal displays an error or is not working, remove the debit card before returning the machine for assistance.
• Do not use a personal card to make a payment for an unknown person in exchange for cash.
• Check the card after each transaction to make sure it is yours, and shield the keypad when entering a PIN.
• Use contactless payment, such as tap, whenever possible. No PIN is required for contactless payments.

The investigation is ongoing. Anyone with information or video footage related to the incident is asked to call police at 519-570-9777, extension 2299. The file number is WA26158261.