More than 250 tampered gift cards recovered in Hamilton fraud investigation

More than 250 gift cards seized by Hamilton police that had been tampered with. (Police handout)

Hamilton police say they’ve seized more than 250 gift cards that had been tampered with in connection with a fraud investigation.

In a release on Friday, police said officers were called to a store in the area of Sherman Avenue and Main Street on Dec. 10.

Staff at the store had allegedly seen a man tampering with gift cards that were on display.

Police said an investigation revealed the man had been replacing the barcodes on the gift cards with barcodes to cards he already had 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,” investigators said.

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The suspect was arrested during a traffic stop, police said, and a search of his vehicle resulted in the seizure of more than 250 gift cards.

The 51-year-old Toronto man is facing multiple charges including theft and fraud over $5,000 and possession of property obtained by crime over $5,000.

With the holiday season approaching, Hamilton police want to remind the public that when purchasing gift cards, shoppers should keep the receipt, check the card for any signs of tampering before purchasing, and avoid checking gift card balances on unofficial or third-party websites.