Cab driver charged in ID theft may have more victims, CPD says

CHICAGO (WLS) -- A cab driver accused of stealing credit and debit card information from passengers may have more victims than previously thought, police said.

Omar Asemgar, 51, was arrested following an ABC7 Eyewitness News I-Team investigation. Police said Asemgar told passengers he needed to run a transaction in the front seat of his taxi because the card swiper in back was broken and then gave passengers the wrong card. Those cards were often from a previous passenger, officials said.

Joe Tosch said that more than $400 was drained from his checking account in the alleged scam. Police now said Asemgar had about 50 different cards- debit and credit- in his possession at the time of his arrest. They also said there are at least 16 alleged victims.

Asemgar was charged Friday with several identity theft felony counts after the I-Team alerted the City of Chicago's Department of Business Affairs and Consumer Protection. His cab driver's license was suspending pending the investigation.

Asemgar was released from jail on a $25,000 bond. He is scheduled to appear in court again in December.

He did not answer the door Wednesday at his Rogers Park apartment.