Feds Arrest Virginia Woman for Unique Million-Dollar Handbag Scheme

[mahatmakanejeeves]

Hat tip, ArlNow: Morning Notes

Feds Arrest Virginia Woman for Unique Million-Dollar Handbag Scheme

By Mike Levine

May 27, 2016, 9:12 AM ET

Federal authorities arrested a Virginia woman on Thursday for a unique handbag-related scheme that targeted several major department stores and involved brands such as Gucci, Burberry and Fendi.

The scheme was so prolific that at one point she was a major department store’s top online customer in the entire world, an agent from Homeland Security Investigations says in court documents.

For years, Praepitcha Smatsorabudh would allegedly buy high-end handbags – many costing more than $2,000 apiece – from department stores online. She would then allegedly return the bags and receive refunds in-person at stores across the country. But what she really was returning were fake handbags that she ordered from suppliers in China and Hong Kong, according to federal authorities.

Smatsorabudh would then sell the authentic, high-end handbags to unwitting customers online, usually through eBay or an Instagram account, federal authorities say.

[yeoman6987]

1. Oh wow. She's in deep trouble. I don't even think she'll be offered a plea deal.

This was blatant theft.

[The_Casual_Observer]

2. Very complicated since the fake ones must have ended up being resold in the shops.