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‘It was a shock’: Toronto business owner says customer used point of sale terminal to issue himself $2,000 refund

TORONTO, JUL 3 – Unauthorized refunds exploiting POS terminal flaws have cost Toronto businesses thousands, prompting calls for better security and vendor responsibility, officials said.

  • Toronto’s Beaches neighbourhood and Queen Street East area faced a wave of thefts where scammers used point of sale terminals to issue unauthorized refunds over recent weeks.
  • These thefts occurred because POS terminals often come with default settings and passcodes that businesses overlook changing, leaving machines vulnerable to exploitation.
  • Notable incidents include a customer refunding himself $2,000 at Souvlaki Hut and a scammer taking $4,900 from Pippins Tea, with both owners expressing shock and calling for stronger terminal protections.
  • Officials urged business owners to protect their terminals by changing PIN codes regularly, locking devices when unattended, and setting refund limits, with Moneris refunding $4,900 to Pippins Tea and aiding security updates.
  • This surge in fraud highlights the need for vendors to improve default security measures and for businesses to adopt proactive safeguarding to prevent future losses on POS systems.
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CP24 broke the news in Toronto, Canada on Thursday, July 3, 2025.
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