A possible attempt at a scam?

[Kittish]

The customers in this one were actually pretty friendly, but... well, read on.

The scenario: Just completed ringing up a decent sized sale and the customers have worked out between them who is chucking how much into the pool to pay for the goods. They finish their deliberations and hand the cash over. I count the cash, get a total that doesn't jibe. Count it again, a bit more slowly. Now it jibes. Count it again just to be certain. Again, it comes out right. Open the cash drawer and set the money I was given in the empty spot I use for just exactly that.

Suddenly, one of them asks for the money so they can count it again. INSTANTLY every scam related alarm in my head goes DING!

After a few seconds of (I'm ashamed to admit) incoherent spluttering, I managed to come up with "I'll count it one more time, slowly, so you can count along with me." The customers agreed to this, and once again, the count came out to what it should have. Gave them their change and they went away.

Now for the question. Was it the lead in to a scam attempt on their part? Or simply customers being dipsticks? We'll probably never actually KNOW.

[TheSHAD0W]

I don't *think* it was a scam, given your description, but don't feel bad that it tripped a red flag. There was definitely the potential for one.

[Mongo Skruddgemire]

It's one of those things that could either be a scam or not. Hard to say really.

But do not feel bad. Never feel bad about it. Many scams start out that way. The intent is to confuse you through misdirection.

So by remaining calm and counting the money *for* the customer and slowly so the customer can see it and count along...you either defeated a potential scam or you reassured a customer that they gave you the correct amount.

Win-Win.

[cono1717]

The one scam that people think they can pull is the old "I gave you a 20" when they only give you a ten. We just count the whole till in front of the customer.

Don't feel bad though I know of some people who'd of just given the money back to them.

[taxguykarl]

The one scam that people think they can pull is the old "I gave you a 20" when they only give you a ten. We just count the whole till in front of the customer.

Shades of Paper Moon some kind of distraction...could easily have been a scam attempt.

[NoMoreRetail]

I smell scam, but I have been screwed over by so many customers I am a little jaded.

[Raveni]

Suddenly, one of them asks for the money so they can count it again

NO.

As soon as you push that button and the cash drawer opens, they're done. The transaction is over, that's your money now and not theirs any more, do not pass go, do not let scammers collect your money.


I trained my people to not do anything but that single transaction (no making change, etc...) and close the drawer. I told them that if someone starts fussing before they can count their change and give it back, just close the drawer and call me or a manager so it's not THEIR butt in a sling if the drawer is off at the end of the day.

[Pixilated]

May or may not have been a scam in the making ... as you said, you'll probably never know for sure.

But you handled it perfectly!

[muppet101]

Or it could be that because you weren't sure the first time, they got worried about giving you too much by accident and just wanted to really double and triple check that everything was fine? Especially if it was a fair bit of money they'd given over.

[Redbeard]

Now for the question. Was it the lead in to a scam attempt on their part? Or simply customers being dipsticks? We'll probably never actually KNOW.

I've seen this scam when I lived in Vegas.
They interrupt the flow of things, "count out" the cash while making a few bills vanish my sleight of hand, then go "Okay, looks good" and don't expect the cashier to recount.

You did right by not letting them handle the cash again