Working a customer-facing job means you learn a lot about people and their unusual antics. A Reddit thread asking retail workers about the most desperate scams customers have tried to pull revealed a treasure trove of hilarious and outrageous stories.
One user, u/RudgerZ, shared an encounter with a woman who attempted to purchase a large amount of gaming consoles and accessories with a fake credit card printed on a home color printer. The user refused to process the fake card, and the woman claimed she would return with cash but never did.
Another user, u/celesticaxxz, recounted a situation where a couple attempted to return a stolen roll of copper wire. They claimed to have purchased it two weeks prior, but the store manager knew that the last roll sold was over three months ago. The couple then threatened to call the police, only to leave the roll behind and depart.
These stories are just a glimpse into the wild world of retail scams. Other incidents include a man trying to return a phone he had shattered after leaving the store, a woman attempting to return an 85% eaten rotisserie chicken, and a customer who tried to pay with a check using a homemade ID.
Many of the scams involved customers trying to return items they had clearly damaged or stolen, often with elaborate excuses and fabricated stories. These tales provide a humorous yet cautionary reminder of the lengths some people will go to for a quick buck or a free product.
The shared experiences highlight the challenges faced by retail workers in dealing with dishonest customers. They often have to rely on their wit and resourcefulness to navigate these tricky situations, often with limited resources and support.
If you have a story of a customer trying to pull a fast one, share it in the comments below!
