Ont. men allegedly behind a series of meat gift card scams

Two men who allegedly put fake gift card barcodes on packages of meat at grocery stores across Waterloo Region are facing new charges.

Waterloo Regional Police said the men, a 38-year-old and 30-year-old from York Region, have also been linked to seven other incidents between Oct. 31, 2024 and Jan. 29, 2025.

They have been additionally charged with theft under $5,000 and seven counts of fraud under $5,000.

In a previous news release, police said the incidents happened at grocery stores in Kitchener, Cambridge and Waterloo.

The two men allegedly had fraudulent barcode stickers, associated with inactivated gift cards, in their possession. Police believe they put them over real barcodes on similarly priced meat products.

On Jan. 29, police said store employees spotted the men putting the fake stickers on high-value meat packages and then leaving the store, located at Erb Street West and Fischer-Hallman Road in Waterloo.

A video, posted by police on X, appeared to show the two men handling meat products inside the store.

Employees told police that the men drove off in a black Ford F150.

Police then located the truck and arrested two men.

Both were charged with fraud under $5,000.

Their names have not been released.