Waterloo Regional Police Lay Charges in Gift Card Scam Investigation

Media Release

UPDATED MEDIA RELEASE:

Waterloo Region, Ontario – Waterloo Regional Police Service’s General Investigations Unit have laid additional charges in connection to a gift card investigation. 

The males, a 38-year-old and a 30-year-old from York Region, have been linked to seven other incidents that have occurred throughout the region, between October 31, 2024, and January 29, 2025.

Both males have been additionally charged with:

  • Theft under $5,000
  • Fraud under $5,000 (seven counts)

The investigation remains ongoing by WRPS’ General Investigations Unit.

Anyone with information is asked to contact investigators at 519-570-9777, extension 6370, or to remain anonymous, Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.

WA25025645 (915)

 

PREVIOUS MEDIA RELEASE:

Waterloo Region, Ontario – Investigators from Waterloo Regional Police Service’s General Investigations Unit have charged two males in connection to a gift card fraud investigation.

Between October 31, 2024, and January 29, 2025, two males attended grocery stores in Kitchener, Cambridge, and Waterloo and fraudulently obtained activated gift cards.

To accomplish this, the males attended stores with fraudulent barcode stickers associated to unactivated gift cards in their possession. They placed the bar codes on top of the barcodes of similarly priced meat products. When one of the meat products was selected by an unsuspecting customer and scanned at a checkout, the gift card associated to the barcode placed there by the suspects was activated.  

On January 29, 2025, at approximately 6 p.m., the males attended a grocery store in the area of Erb Street West and Fischer-Hallman Road in Waterloo, where they were observed by store employees placing barcodes on high-value meat products and leaving the store. The employees contacted police and noted that the males had left the area in a black Ford F150.

Police responded to the area and conducted a traffic stop of the Ford truck. The males were subsequently arrested and charged with fraud under $5,000.

The males, a 38-year-old and a 30-year-old from York Region, were held in police custody for a bail hearing.

The investigation remains ongoing by WRPS’ General Investigations Unit, and additional charges are anticipated.

Anyone with information is asked to contact investigators at 519-570-9777, extension 6370, or to remain anonymous, Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.

WA25025645 (915)

Media Inquiries:
Waterloo Regional Police Service
Public Information Unit
519-570-9777 (WRPS) ext. 8188
publicinfo@wrps.on.ca

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