I just received a letter from a large retailer informing me that they have conducted an investigation into my refund activity and it revealed "numerous questionable and problematic refunds." They want me to make an appointment to determine how this matter can be resolved, and if I ignore the request, they will conclude the investigation without my input.
could you tell me what I should expect from this meeting, what rights I have, what rights they have, if they can charge me with a crime, and if so, what would the crime be called, or even the Oregon statute. thank you!
Retail Return Fraud
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07-31-2005, 10:02 PMsailorRetail Return Fraud
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07-31-2005, 10:14 PMaaronRe: retail return fraudIf you go, you can expect that they will try to get you to confess to return fraud.Quote:
Quoting sailor
You have the right to ignore their request, or to walk out any time you want. They have the right to ask you to go to the meeting, and try to get you to confess to return fraud if you go.Quote:
Quoting sailor
If they feel they have enough evidence of a crime, they will probably turn their findings and your statements over to the police.Quote:
Quoting sailor
An Oregon criminal defense lawyer may be able to estimate what charges might follow, based upon the circumstances and dollar amounts involved.Quote:
Quoting sailor
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04-24-2007, 10:53 AMsammy11Re: Retail return fraud
i received the exact same letter from a major retailer and have the same questions - what can i expect? i spoke with an attorney briefly and they suggested not going to the meeting because they would want to try and get you to admit to retail fraud. in my case i have made a lot of purchases and returns over the year and during that may have returned some merchandise accidentally that wasn't theirs. i also take tags off so i can wear them to see if i really like them and if i don't then i put the tag back on and return it to the store. i never get cash and i only do it to get the best deal on the best clothes. everything i am doing is totally unintentional but now getting this letter has really freaked me out and i am worried. i have no record of anything ever but this is something i was doing as a way of shopping for goods, no intent to harm anyone or anything. i have no problem paying them back for whatever they think i did wrong but not sure if this will make it all better or not - help!!
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04-24-2007, 11:01 AMpanther10758Re: Retail return fraud
If you do not go to meeting they will conduct investigation without your input and could proceed with criminal charges.
If you go to meeting you can be sure they will want a confession. You can do so or explain the problem. If you explain problem and prove to them there was no theft its over. However if you don't they will likely proceed with criminal case unless you agree to repay them.
Both options have pitfalls. Its very likely they already have enough to proceed with a criminal case. If you go to meeting I would suggest you bring along an Attorney. -
04-24-2007, 11:28 AMsammy11Re: Retail return fraud
Ok, makes sense but how do you define "theft" in this discussion. If all i did was take clothes home and "try out" for a period of time and then returned them, possibly on the wrong tags but still their product are they looking for theft in this. i certainly didn't sell them or get cash back on returns or anything, all handled above board and such. the other question is payment, i am happy to pay them if they feel i have done something to put them at an economic disadvantage, can't i just offer that to them over the phone and make this go away or do they want to push it all the way to trying to find if i am doing something illegal? i just want out of this and paying for whatever they think i have done to them is certainly appropriate to me. i wasn't trying to make money on anything, just get what i really wanted if i messed up the process, which i know i have done, then i am sorry for that but i certainly don't feel it is criminal.
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04-24-2007, 09:39 PMredtoy92Re: Retail return fraudQuote:
Quoting sammy11
sammy please read your last two posts... you have returned non store merchandise and have returned items for higher prices then paid for.. you state that right in your posts... and you know you are doing it on purpose becuase you just want to get this to go away with no legal action. Good luck with this and you made your bed so own up and do the right thing. And you ARE a criminal even if you do not feel like one. Returnig the wrong merchandise or with the wrong prices and knowing this is a CRIMINAL act. :wallbang: -
04-25-2007, 06:19 AMCaliforniaMomRe: Retail return fraudQuote:
may have returned some merchandise accidentally that wasn't theirs. i also take tags off so i can wear them to see if i really like them and if i don't then i put the tag back on and return it to the store.
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i only do it to get the best deal on the best clothes.
That....sounds pretty darn intentional to me.Quote:
everything i am doing is totally unintentional
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04-25-2007, 08:29 AMboomer2Re: Retail return fraudVery familiar with this. The letter came DHL ?Quote:
Quoting sammy11
Suggest you do not attend the meeting. Just ask how much the questionable returns are and send the check. And dont sign anything at all including the check. Get one from a bank. -
04-25-2007, 04:56 PMguestRe: Retail Return Fraud
What retailers are doing this?
I never heard of such a thing. Sounds fishy. -
04-25-2007, 07:14 PMsammy11Re: Retail Return Fraud
I don't think i should name the retailers at this point but apparently this isn't the first time this is out there with some. another question is what does anyone think might happen in my case - late 30's and have a totally clean record - nothing. is it more likely they will want to settle or prosecute and if they do prosecute what would be the likely outcome? very ignorante about the law in this area- whole new area for me - thanks.
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04-25-2007, 07:19 PMboomer2Re: Retail Return FraudQuote:
Quoting sammy11
They did not " catch " you in the act with a camera or eyes. All they want is money. Give them a check and put it behind you. Stay off their property and dont attend any meetings. -
04-26-2007, 11:55 AMsammy11Re: Retail Return Fraud
boomer, sounds like this happened to you somewhere along the line. if so, what was your outcome and/or how do you know so much about this type of event? your insights would be most helpful. if this didn't happen to you, where are you getting your information from or your advice?
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04-26-2007, 11:59 AMpanther10758Re: Retail Return Fraud
Sammy I would suggest boomer is wrong. Why would they want you to come in if they didnt have eye witiness or video? Otherwise you cna just deny everything and it would be over. No I have conducted these types of interviews countless times your not called in unless they have all they need.
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04-26-2007, 12:15 PMaaronRe: Retail Return Fraud
A lot of people confess when interrogated, even when the facts are insufficient to establish a case. A lot of police interrogations which result in confessions are based upon evidence too thin to actually result in prosecution - the confession, of course, makes the prosecution's job easy.
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04-26-2007, 03:53 PMboomer2Re: Retail Return Fraud
Happened to a close friend. Purpose of the meeting was to confront the individual with the suspect returns and seemingly to gain a confession. I short curcuited the conversation by asking the total dollar amount of the contested returns and offered a check as it wasnt all that much money - or rather - not worth interrupting work flow for.
Sent bank check, didnt sign anything, and got a restitution release back in the mail. Many months ago now.
It seemed easiest to offer to write the check rather than let them try to beat it out of the individual. Scary at first which casued me to read this board but settled quite amicably a while ago.