Project Reload Uncovers Sophisticated Gift Card Scam
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The Halton Regional Police Service (HRPS) has arrested two men and laid multiple charges following investigation into a fraudulent scheme involving pre-purchased gift cards.
In December 2025, the HRPS received a complaint concerning a suspected fraud investigation at a Walmart Supercentre in the City of Burlington. The investigation was initiated after an unidentified male was observed removing gift cards from his pockets and placing them onto a retail display rack. The individual was subsequently seen selecting additional gift cards, concealing them, and exiting the store without attending any point of sale or attempting to activate or purchase the cards.
The scheme involved fraudulently placing compromised gift cards onto retail display racks and later monitoring the cards for activation by unsuspecting customers. Once funds were loaded onto the cards at purchase, the suspect redeemed the balances to obtain goods and other items of value before the legitimate purchaser could use them.
In March 2026, Project Reload was initiated by the Financial Crimes Unit following an investigation into the male’s suspected involvement in a sophisticated and organized gift card fraud scheme operating across multiple jurisdictions throughout Ontario. Through investigative efforts, the suspect was identified, and a vehicle believed to be connected to the offences was located. The investigation identified suspected fraudulent activity in numerous regions, including Halton, Hamilton, Brantford, Niagara, Toronto, Peel, Durham, Kitchener-Waterloo, Guelph, York, and Barrie.
Ongoing surveillance revealed that the suspect was actively and systematically placing gift cards onto retail display racks at various locations. During the course of the investigation, investigators seized a quantity of these gift cards and, for evidentiary purposes, loaded them with varying monetary values. In April 2026, investigators confirmed that funds from several of the monitored cards had been redeemed. Subsequent investigation determined that the suspect used the cards to purchase various goods.
On May 12 2026, members of the Financial Crimes Unit – Fraud Project Team executed three (3) Criminal Code Search Warrants in the City of Mississauga. As a result of the search warrants the suspect and a second male were arrested, and the following items seized (see attached photos):
- 2012 BMW X3 SUV
- 5,700 prepaid gift cards with discernable values – Total at risk loss over 1 million dollars
- 137 bottles of alcohol seized with an approximate total value of over $11,000
- Four mobile phones
- MacBook
- Two laptops
- $700 in counterfeit currency
- 487 Belmont cigarettes packs with 20 cigarettes per box – Total value over $8,000
- High end watches, jewelry and sunglasses
- Various perfumes
- Various instruments used for tampering and forgery
- Black pellet pistol
- Break barrel pellet rifle
- C8 style pellet rifle
- Black Sig Sauer P226 pellet gun
- Card making instrument and other tools to tamper with gift cards
- Card printer
As a result of the investigation the following charges have been laid:
Giorgi Khandolishvili (48) 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
Jevgenij Piskunov (40) 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.