A months-long fraud investigation by Halton Regional Police Service (HRPS) has led to the arrest of two Mississauga men and the seizure of thousands of gift cards allegedly tied to a sophisticated provincewide scam.
The investigation began in December after suspicious activity was reported at a Walmart store in Burlington. Investigators allege a suspect was seen placing compromised gift cards onto retail display racks before stealing additional cards and leaving the store without paying.
According to police, the scheme involved tampered gift cards being placed back on store shelves. Once unsuspecting customers purchased and loaded funds onto the cards, the suspects allegedly accessed the balances and used the money to buy goods before the legitimate purchaser could redeem the cards.
The investigation, dubbed Project Reload, expanded across multiple Ontario jurisdictions including Toronto, Hamilton, Barrie and Guelph. Police say surveillance showed the suspects repeatedly placing fraudulent gift cards on retail racks at stores throughout the province.
On Tuesday, May 12th, investigators executed three search warrants in Mississauga and arrested two men. Officers seized a 2012 BMW X3, roughly 5,700 prepaid gift cards with an estimated potential loss exceeding $1 million, counterfeit cash, electronics, cigarettes, alcohol, luxury items and equipment allegedly used to alter and forge gift cards. Police also recovered several pellet-style firearms.
48-year-old Giorgi Khandolishvili of Mississauga:
- Fraud over $5000
- Fraud under $5000 (2 counts)
- Possession of Property Obtained by Crime under $5000
- Possession of a Forged Document with Intent
- Forgery
- Possession of Property Obtained by Crime over $5000
- Possession Instruments for Forgery
40-year-old Jevgenij Piskunov of Mississauga:
- Fraud over $5000
- Fraud under $5000
- Possession of Property Obtained by Crime under $5000
- Possession of a Forged Document with Intent
- Forgery
- Possession of Property Obtained by Crime over $5000
- Possession Instruments for Forgery
Both accused were released on an Undertaking with a future court date in Milton.
Anyone with information regarding this investigation is asked to contact the HRPS Financial Crimes Unit at 905-825-4777.
Tips can also be submitted anonymously to Crime Stoppers. “See something? Hear something? Know something? Contact Crime Stoppers” at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS) or online.
