51-year-old Toronto man arrested in Hamilton following gift card fraud investigation

Hamilton police have arrested a 51-year-old man from Toronto in connection with a gift card fraud investigation. Police say he was arrested during a traffic stop and had more than 250 gift cards in his possession.

The investigation began at a store in the area of Sherman Avenue and Main Street on Wednesday after a man was seen manipulating gift cards.

Police say the suspect was replacing the barcodes on the backs of the cards.

This is a common gift card scam tactic. Fraudsters will take the barcodes from gift cards they have in their possession, and attach them to unpurchased cards. When a customer buys one of the altered cards, it activates the cards held by the fraudsters and leaves the customer’s lawfully purchased card worthless.

As the holiday season approaches, police are reminding consumers to be cautious when purchasing gift cards. It’s recommended to keep a copy of your receipt, check for any tampering, and avoid checking card balances on unofficial websites.

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