Warning: A New Retail Scam

[Pete44ru]

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Today, I was made aware of a scam being run by dishonest cashiers at some retailers, WalMart being the largest retail location, but by no means the only one that has dishonest employees.

The scam is being used to steal from shopper's credit/debit cards at checkout, involving the dishonest employee and an accomplice, who's usually the next customer in line.

How this scam works is that the dishonest employee keys in a "cash back" amount (usually $10 or $20, in an attempt to stay un-noticed) that the payer neither asked for, or keyed in themselves during the card swipe.

Sometimes, the dishonest employee doesn't offer the paying customer a register receipt.

The extra cash is then removed from the register and given to the accomplice as part of their "change" - which is why the theft isn't picked up by surveillance (camera).

The shopper usually just pockets the receipt, but if they happen to notice the "cash back" entry & complain, the dishonest employee innocently tells the victim that the machine has been "acting up" all day, either cancelling the transaction (if it's caught early enough) or stating they cannot cancel the transaction after it was completed.

Our takeaways should be:

1) ALWAYS get a receipt

2) ALWAYS read it before leaving checkout

3) ALWAYS demand to speak to the store owner/manager if you have been victimized

Caveat Emptor.......................


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[Rusty]

Good to know, thanks for sharing.

[gamekeeper]

I'm glad I always use cash, thanks for the warning though.

[bmtshooter]

WalMarts in my area will not allow cash back on credit cards .... only debit cards. Those who use any kind of card need to scrutinize receipts for every transaction. This is simply a matter of financial situational awareness.

Who do you trust most? Probably the server at the restaurant to whom you give your credit card. They take it back somewhere out of sight and do who knows what. Yikes!