Windsor Senior Loses $275 on Gift Cards to Scammers

A Windsor, Ontario senior has expressed deep regret after losing $275 on gift cards that were drained by scammers. Mark Duguay, 66, purchased the cards as a gesture of appreciation for the organizers of his seniors’ euchre club. Following the incident, he declared he will never buy gift cards again.

Duguay’s ordeal began earlier this month when the club collected funds to buy five Tim Hortons gift cards, each valued at $55. He obtained the cards from a Dollarama store and presented them at a gathering on December 10, 2023. However, the following day, recipients reported that the cards could not be redeemed. “It says ‘access denied’ on all the cards,” Duguay stated, visibly upset.

Upon discovering the issue, Duguay returned to the Dollarama location to seek a refund. He was instructed to contact Tim Hortons instead, as he could not provide proof that the cards had not been used. “They kept saying, ‘There’s nothing we can do,’” he recalled.

In response to inquiries, a Dollarama representative stated that customer service teams review gift card issues on a case-by-case basis. The spokesperson noted that each card issuer has its own policies regarding reimbursement and replacement. They also acknowledged the limitations of preventing gift card fraud once the transaction is completed.

Jennifer Matthews, CEO of the Better Business Bureau for Western Ontario, commented on Duguay’s experience, indicating that it is not uncommon, particularly during the holiday season. She highlighted a scam known as “gift card draining,” where criminals tamper with the codes on the cards before returning them to store shelves. “Once somebody comes in and buys those gift cards, they are activated at the point of sale. The scammer has the information and can drain the card of everything that the purchaser thought was going to be on the card,” Matthews explained.

Consumer Reports advocacy director, Chuck Bell, advised gift-givers to check gift cards for signs of tampering, such as damage to the protective strip on the back. He noted that as scamming techniques become more sophisticated, the signs of tampering may not always be visible. “It could also be a hacking problem,” Bell added.

Duguay expressed concern about how the rest of his euchre club members perceive him, especially those who contributed to the total amount spent on the gift cards. “It’s like I’m the one who stole the money. They all know I got scammed,” he said. “But at the end of the day, how do I explain that?”

Despite the unfortunate incident, Duguay noted that the five recipients of the cards have been understanding. However, he remains resolute: “I’ll never buy a gift card, ever again.”