Man Arrested in Gift Card Fraud
Hamilton Police have arrested a 51-year-old Toronto man in connection with a fraud investigation involving tampered gift cards.
On December 10, 2025, officers were called to a retail store in the area of Sherman Avenue and Main Street after staff observed a man manipulating gift cards on display. The investigation revealed that the suspect had been replacing the barcodes on the cards with barcodes belonging to cards already in his possession. As a result, when an unsuspecting customer purchased one of the altered cards, the monetary value loaded at the checkout would activate only the card held by the suspect, leaving the purchaser with a worthless card.
The suspect was arrested during a traffic stop. A police search resulted in the seizure of more than 250 gift cards in his possession. He now faces the following charges:
- Theft Over $5,000
- Fraud Over $5,000
- Possession of Property Obtained by Crime Over $5,000
With the holiday season approaching, Hamilton Police are reminding the public to take the following precautions when purchasing gift cards:
- Keep your receipt, which includes the transaction details and gift card number.
- Check the card for any signs of tampering before purchasing.
- Avoid checking balances on unofficial or third-party websites—use only the retailer’s official site.
If you have additional information that you believe will assist investigators with this occurrence, please contact Detective Ross Johnson from the Financial Crimes Unit at 905-546-3839. To submit information anonymously, please contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS) or visit crimestoppershamilton.com.