Woman warned over illegal 'self-checkout trick' that's breaking the law

11 September 2023 , 11:38

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This image shows someone scanning food at a self-service checkout (stock image) (Image: Getty Images)

A woman using a 'cheeky' tactic to save cash while using self-checkouts at the supermarket could find herself in hot water after she was warned it was illegal.

The woman thought she was being savvy by regularly putting cheaper items, such as brown onions, through the system in place of pricey fruit and veg such as avocado. Her escapades led to a disagreement with her friend, who believed it was stealing. But the offender disagreed and said she didn't see it as theft because she was "still paying for something".

She said supermarkets also worked the cost of self-checkout fraud into its prices because "everyone does it". However, her friend wrote into News.com.au 's Sisters In Law, which allows people to put their legal conundrums to Alison and Jillian Barrett, two siblings who are both lawyers. They both confirmed the woman's "deceitful conduct" could land her in hot water.

They replied: "It doesn't matter how your friend tries to justify her behaviour, her deceitful conduct in intentionally not paying full price is against the law. Your friend's technique of using the self-service checkout to pass off more expensive items as cheaper ones cheat the system by underpaying."

They warned that tricks such as these push up prices for other hard-pressed shoppers by costing supermarkets a fortune each year. They added: "Her fraudulent behaviour is just one of many tricks employed by self-service thieves to avoid payment."

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Many supermarkets now have staff and security guards to ensure self-checkouts are being used correctly and that shoppers are being truthful. Loose items are weighed on self-checkouts, to ensure the correct price is paid.

The lawyers warned that if her friend was eventually caught "an excuse like getting avocados confused with brown onions is likely not going to cut it". The pair added that she could be left facing a range of punishments, including a large fine.

Kelly Ashmore