Retail-level fraud by consumers is an expensive fact of life for businessmen and consumers. Consider:
- Fraudulently cashed checks total at least $ 1 billion each year.
- Fraudulent redemption of coupons is now estimated at 100 million annually.
- Store losses due to shoplifting now amount to a hidden tax of 150 on each family in the United States every year as a result of these losses being passed on to customers in the form of higher prices.
- Because of these and other consumer-level abuses against retailers, approximately $ 2 billion must be spent annually on store security.