Walmart Busts Florida’s Dumbest Retail Scam (So Far This Week)

While we at PYMNTS.com would never applaud crime, we do have to credit Cheyenne Amber West of Fort Pierce, Florida, with boldness for her recent attempts to scam Walmart of more than $1,800 in consumer electronics.

Boldness, but not brains, because while we can’t help admitting it was gutsy of her to try and slip nearly $2,000 in merchandise past self-checkout while only actually ringing in $3.70, it really wasn’t a very well thought-out plan.

West was busted when a loss prevention officer at Walmart noticed West and another woman grabbing electronics, like a computer and some video game controllers, among other retail things, and then covering the bar codes with stickers removed from merchandise in the clearance department.

Once the faked stickers were secured to the retail items, West and her associate rang them through at a self-checkout machine, where they paid exactly $1,821 less than what was owed.

“I am just trying to get gifts for my son that I cannot afford. The computer is for my husband. Since he just got me a Coach purse, I figured he deserved something nice as well,” West reportedly told a Florida deputy.

West is charged with felony grand theft and felony shoplifting, according to her arrest affidavit.