Shoplifting Declines, But 'Fraud Schemes' Persist

The National Retail Federation's Impact of Theft & Violence 2026 report found that shoplifting incidents declined 12.4% and retail merchandise theft fell 8.1% in 2025, reflecting retailers' investments in security technology and employee training. At the same time, organized retail crime is evolving, with increases in phone scams (69%), loyalty fraud (51%), gift card fraud (42%), repeat offenders (50%), organized retail crime incidents (40%) and walkout or pushout theft (37%). The findings underscore a shift from traditional shoplifting to more sophisticated fraud schemes targeting both physical and digital retail environments.

The report highlights how retail security strategies are evolving beyond loss prevention to fraud detection and risk management. Retailers, financial institutions, payment providers, technology companies and security firms have opportunities to help businesses combat increasingly complex fraud through advanced analytics, employee training and stronger collaboration with law enforcement.