We're already thinking about returns

Weeks before Black Friday, retailers are anticipating returns -- and ripoffs.

Nearly 9 percent of all returns this season will be faked in some way, industry experts says. Nearly all (92 percent) of merchants say they have had shoppers attempt to return stolen merchandise; and 83.1 percent said customers who bought goods with stolen tender try to cash in returns; about half used counterfeit receipts.

Wardrobing, in which someone buys apparel, dons it and then returns it to the store for a refund is growing by leaps and bounds. According to the National Retail Federation study, 66.1 percent of stores have experienced that problem, compared to 56 percent in 2006.

Desperate retailers plan to look the other way; 35 percent said they will be more lenient in accepting holiday returns this year.