The most common form of retail fraud is the return of stolen merchandise, and now, in the return season, is the time stores need to watch for it. And who pays the price? You. With stricter return policies. “According to most industry estimates, shoppers in the United States will return about $100 billion of merchandise this year, and about 9 percent of the returns will be fraudulent.”

Retailers do not like returns. “Today, as much as 5 percent to 30 percent of a retailer’s sales can end up back in the store,” said George Stalk,

a director at The Boston Consulting Group

So what can you do? Keep your receipt. Keep your receipt. Keep your receipt! As fraud grows, it’s only going to get tougher to return the ugly sweater grandma gave you. —MEGHANN MARCO

Returns: Up to a third of items go back [Star-Ledger]