Woman Charged With Return Scam At Fairfield Stores

FAIRFIELD, Conn. – A Trumbull woman has been accused of being involved in a scheme that is suspected of taking $126,000 via fraudulent returns at stores in Fairfield and other towns, police say.

Larisa Lein, 52, of Trumbull was charged with third-degree larceny.
Photo Credit: *Courtesy of the Fairfield Police*

by Greg Canuel

01/28/2013 1:00 p.m.

The suspects would buy items at Marshall’s and T.J. Maxx stores in the area, and then place the store’s price tags onto lesser-valued items, according to police reports. Another member of the four-person group would then return the item at a different location of the same chain and keep the cash, police say. Investigators believe that the group made 1,298 returns with a total value of more than $126,000, according to police reports.

Larisa Lein, 52, of Trumbull was linked to six of the returns involving stores in Fairfield, police say. She was arrested on a warrant Friday morning. Lein was charged with third-degree larceny, a felony. She was released after posting a $7,500 bond, and is due in court Feb. 1.

Fairfield police charged a Weston woman for her involvement in a similar scam at the same chain late last year, according to arrest reports. Investigators have not yet found a connection between these incidents, but the cases still being investigated, police say.

Click here to follow Daily Voice Fairfield and receive free news updates.