A long-running retail scam aimed at luxury goods was uncovered after odd return transactions at a shopping mall in Los Angeles led to the arrest of two individuals suspected of defrauding Nordstrom out of a significant amount of money.
Two residents from Glendale have been accused of executing a scheme that netted them over $300,000 through fraudulent refunds. They allegedly bought high-end items and returned counterfeit versions, according to the police in Glendale.
This case, which has roots back to 2019, only came to attention this year in February. A Nordstrom employee reported a return that involved fake items, spurring further investigation.
Nordstrom’s internal team subsequently identified a recurring pattern of questionable returns linked to two individuals, Alpine Sarkisian and Argin Garapetyan.
Law enforcement executed a search warrant at their Glendale residence on April 22, recovering a substantial stash of both legitimate and fake designer goods, along with tags and packaging. Authorities also found evidence that suggested genuine items were being resold online.
Both Sarkisian and Garapetyan face multiple charges, including grand theft and theft under false pretenses, and their court appearance is scheduled for August 31.
Detectives believe that the two acquired over 224 luxury items—including a nearly $3,000 Yves Saint Laurent bag and Gucci shoes worth over $1,000—and then returned them for refunds. The losses to Nordstrom are estimated at more than $300,000, with at least $50,000 tied to the fraudulent returns identified thus far.
The investigation is still in progress, indicating that the full extent of this scam might still be unfolding.
