The National Retail Security Survey tells us to add another $16
billion a year to the cost of consumer fraud - because nearly 10% of
all returns are fraudulent.
Just like other forms of fraud, there are people who consider bogus
retail returns their primary employment. Instead of going to work in
an office building, a restaurant, a factory or any of the myriad
other places that Joe and Jane Honest American work, these people
prefer to let YOU pay for THEIR lifestyle
Take the case of Fred and Frieda, a brother sister team who would
easily scam hundreds of dollars a day via receipt hunting. First
they'd scour empty shopping carts for receipts; then they'd enter
the store, find the matching merchandise and carry it over to the
service counter to "return" it. This one is called "Shoplisting."
Other schemes include switching bar codes, swapping packaging, or
something called "wardrobing." Some people think this is perfectly
acceptable behavior, but if the store can't put the item back on the
shelf -- somebody has to cover the cost. Guess who? YOU DO.
Here's a visual for you. $16 BILLION a year translates to stealing
about $225 from every family of four. Fight back, America. If you
see something dishonest going on, grab a security guard and MAKE HIM
LISTEN. Smack him up a few times.
Okay, we're just kidding about that last sentence; we wanted to make
sure that you were paying attention. And we hope that you are!