$20K Larceny Reported In Restaurant Gift Card Scam: Newington PD

NEWINGTON, CT — Newington police said Calvin Ortique, 34, of Bloomfield, formerly of Newington, faces charges related to a "gift and loyalty card larceny" from the Hartford Restaurant Group’s Wood-n-Tap restaurants.

"The investigation into the larceny led to the development of probable cause that Ortique had allegedly obtained information through a point-of-sale system that managed loyalty and gift card numbers, and subsequently redeemed over $20,000 in value at the Newington Wood-n-Tap as well as several other Wood-n-Tap locations throughout the state beginning in 2020," Newington police said in a news release.

"Additionally, Ortique, as well as other co-conspirators, are alleged to have presented some of the stolen card numbers on fraudulently created e-gift card images," police said in a news release. "Restaurant guests discovered that their gift cards, primarily purchased in the fall and winter of 2020, as well as loyalty card monies, had no value when they tried to redeem them."

Ortique is charged with first-degree computer crimes, first-degree forgery, first-degree identity theft, first-degree larceny, and conspiracy to commit first-degree larceny.

Police said that this remains an ongoing investigation and the Newington Police Department is asking anyone with additional information to contact them at 860-666-8445.

Phil Barnett, the co-CEO and co-Founder of the Hartford Restaurant Group, told WFSB 3 TV that Ortique is accused of hacking the company's gift and loyalty card database. Balances impacted ranged from $30 to $700, Barnett told WFSB 3 TV.

Barnett said the company reloaded funds onto "hundreds of cards" that were impacted, WFSB 3 TV reported. (Read more at WFSB 3 TV).

Guests of the Wood-n-Tap can check their gift card balances at woodntap.com, and those who believe they have been affected can contact Loss Prevention at Wood-n-Tap at lossprevention@wntus.com