Weird Target Scams
-I worked in a Michigan store where they have a "bounty" for items that items that aren't priced correctly. Basically, if an expired sale sign was still up, and a guest complained about the price difference, they would get the price difference PLUS a $5.00 state required 'bounty' fee. We had a team of guests would travel to the Detroit-area stores and would actively seek out items that were mis-marked, take a photo of the sign, purchase 5 of the same item (the limit for the bounty), then get the price difference back (plus the $5), then return the items. Nothing we could do... When AP became wise to them, they would have the LOD follow them around and take down the sale signs before they got to checkout.
-We a had a woman would purchase clothing items, then return it on 89th day. Not only did she keep the receipts and tag, but she would reattach the labels (albeit, in the wrong place) with her own swift-tack gun. Couple times we saw that some of the tags had dates on them (the date purchased, and the date the receipt expired). We weren't *allowed* to deny her refunds by order of our STL, but she became a regular at the service desk and we tried to make her uncomfortable (wow! didn't we just see you Monday? You never seem to find anything that you like, do you need helping finding a nice outfit?). When she became wise to us, she would send in her husband to do the returns.
Weird Scams at Other Stores I've Worked At
-Working at stores with Western Union services was never a dull moment... From the classic scam telephone calls "Hello, I'm from Western Union technical support, can you run a test transaction for us?" And yes, people fell for those even with training, constant reminders on the WU transaction portal not to do test transactions, and signs at the computer! One woman I had to terminate fell for it twice... Caused us $5,000 in shortages.
-Another Western Union scam... One person convinced a service desk person to process the WU transaction first, then ring it up on the POS... Guess what? Person's debit card was declined... Employee went to cancel the transaction, money was already picked up. Another $3,000 loss.
-The creepy dude who lived in the motel across the street... Would send about $500 weekly to his "girlfriend" in Thailand, and another $250 to a 'friend' in Gahana.
-When I worked at Meijer, a couple convinced an older gentleman in the parking to return some items on their behalf. The couple had tried returning the items (an expensive hair dryer, waterpik, and a razor) without a receipt at another store, but was denied. LP allowed the transaction to go through (not aware the guy was a pawn) and stopped him for refund fraud. Police called. The woman from the couple asked where her "grandfather" was, and was taken back to LP office. The guy came up several minutes and asked where his wife and father were... He was taken back to LP office... In the end, the old guy was let go and the couple arrested... Morales of the story? Don't shoplift. And if you are going to lie, get your story straight!
-Another Meijer story... Meijer POS allows you to add comments to a person's refund history if they attempt a return without a receipt. It ties the information to the driver's license information, and shows ALL non-receipted returns, along with the time, date, items returned, if they've been flagged by LP, if anymore returns are allowed, and comments from the team member/manager. Guy came in and exchanged Apple Headphones and an iPhone charger. Had previous history, but manager allowed ONE more transaction as long as it was exchange.... We marked it as such in the system. Comes in a few weeks later, exchanges them again... Guy's record was flagged and instructions were left on his profile to deny future transactions... Comes in the next day to RETURN the items. Return denied. Guy tries to claim we're discriminatory because he had difficulty walking... "Sorry sir, you were advised yesterday that future non-receipt refunds and exchanges would be denied." Guy states he is a police office and will arrest us for fraud, "Again sir, I'm sorry... Meijer policy requires receipt.... have a great day...". Starts yelling, getting mad... Now states his is a LAWYER and will sue us for not standing by our product. "I'm sorry sir, but if you can try to call Apple for an exchange if the product was defective." Ended up needing to call the police to get him out of the store. According to the police officer who trespassed him, guy is a regular scammer and 'slip-and-fall' fraudster. Routinely claims he is lawyer/police officer to get what he wanted.
