Project Reload Uncovers Sophisticated Gift Card Scam

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.

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 through the web at www.haltoncrimestoppers.ca.

Tips to Help Protect Yourself

•  Inspect cards in-store: Buy gift cards from behind the counter or secure displays when possible. Before buying, check that the packaging is intact, the PIN isn't scratched off, and the barcode hasn't been replaced with a sticker.
• Keep your receipts: If you buy a gift card, keep the receipt until the balance is verified by the recipient.
• Never use gift cards for payment: No legitimate business, law enforcement agency, or government department will ever ask you to pay fines, fees, or debts using prepaid gift cards or cryptocurrency.
• Verify urgent requests: If someone claiming to be a friend, family member, or boss asks for a gift card, verify their identity by calling them directly or meeting in person before taking any action.

What to Do If You've Been Scammed

• Report it: Contact your local police department to file a report.
• Contact the card issuer: If the scam is related to in-store tampering, report it to the retailer where you bought the card. For gift cards like Vanilla, iTunes, or Amazon, contact the card company's fraud department immediately to see if the funds can be frozen.
• Notify the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre: Report fraud cases online through the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre or by calling 1-888-495-8501

Media Inquiries:
Halton Regional Police Service
Media Relations
Phone: 905-825-4899
Email: corpcomm@haltonpolice.ca