Ontario Seniors Discover Empty Gift Cards Consumers Alerted About Gift Card Draining

Mark Duguay, a 66-year-old man from Windsor, Ont., lost $275 to scammers who drained five Tim Hortons gift cards he purchased as gifts for his euchre club organizers. After presenting the cards, all recipients reported that they were unable to redeem them due to an “access denied” message. Duguay attempted to get a refund from Dollarama but was directed to Tim Hortons, leaving him feeling embarrassed and concerned about his club’s perception. Experts warn of a prevalent scam where thieves tamper with gift card barcodes, leading to significant financial losses for unsuspecting buyers.