Return fraud
Return fraud is the act of defrauding a retail store by means of the return process. There are various ways in which this crime is committed. For example, the offender may return stolen merchandise to secure cash, steal receipts or receipt tape to enable a falsified return, or use somebody else's receipt to try to return an item picked up from a store shelf. Return abuse is a form of "friendly fraud" where someone purchases products without intending to keep them. Perhaps the best-known form of this abuse is "wardrobing" or "free renting" – in which the  person makes a purchase, use the product(s), and then returns the merchandise. The retail industry experiences a significant fraud and abuse problem, losing money in the range of $24 billion per year, roughly 7% of all returns and exchanges. Return fraud and theft have been reported to lead to price increases for shoppers. Some stores create strict return policies such as "no receipt, no return" or impose return time restrictions. Types. Some examples of return fraud include: Wardrobing, purchasing merchandise for short-term use with the intent to return the item, has been described by industry advocates as a  form of return fraud. Return policies have historically served as the primary way for retailers to combat return fraud and abuse; the challenge is keeping policies from being overly restrictive or inconsistently interpreted, both of which may discourage loyal customers and affect purchases. Automated solutions have also been developed to help combat return fraud and abuse, including software programs that detect such behavior and help retailers determine whether a return is valid.