Why 'wardrobing' retail fraud soars in the summer

A particular type of retail fraud soars during the summer season.

A particular type of retail fraud soars during the summer season.

“Wardrobing,” in which a shopper buys an expensive item, wears it with the tags on, and then returns the product for a refund, picks up as shoppers bolster their closets for summer vacations, according to returns management software company Optoro.

“During the summer and cruise season, from July to September, we see wardrobing and overall return rates spike by two-to-three times, with swimwear alone making up between 5% and 15% of returns,” said Amena Ali, CEO of Optoro. “This highlights the fine line between habitual returners and fraudsters.”

Forty percent of 18-to-29-year-olds wardrobe, according to Optoro data.

In a November 2023 Optoro returns survey, 30% of shoppers admitted to buying an item for a specific event, only to return it after the occasion ended.

https://www.nbcnews.com/business/consumer/wardrobing-retail-fraud-soars-summer-rcna165617

---