Officers say they seized bags of receipts and a portable receipt printer after staff flagged a suspicious return attempt.
NEWNAN, Ga. — A Carrollton couple was arrested this week after Newnan police said the pair tried to return merchandise they never purchased at a Target store, a scheme officers described as a receipt scam that relied on old or printed receipts and look-alike items gathered from store shelves.
Police identified the suspects as Whitney Marie Adams, 45, and Jonathan Quinton Adams, 47, both from Carroll County. Investigators said the case began with a flagged return at the Target in Newnan and ended with felony charges after officers searched a car and found what they called the tools of a receipt-based fraud. The arrests come as retailers brace for a surge in post-holiday returns, a time when shoplifting and refund schemes often climb. The case remains open as detectives review seized receipts and electronic devices to determine how many stores and locations may be involved.
Officers said the encounter started inside the customer service area when a return drew extra scrutiny and staff alerted police. Responding units detained the couple in the parking lot late in the shopping day and searched a vehicle, where they reported finding multiple bags of receipts from large retail chains and a portable Target receipt printer. Police called it a “receipt scam,” saying the suspects used old, stolen or freshly printed receipts to match items pulled from store shelves, then sought refunds. “This is the kind of crime that picks up this time of year,” police said after the arrests, emphasizing that the tactic depends on speed and volume during busy return periods.
Investigators said the Newnan store’s staff recognized Whitney Adams from previous retail work, which prompted closer review of barcode numbers and return histories before the attempted refund was completed. Officers added that the receipts spanned several chains and included recent date ranges that suggested the car served as a mobile base for repeated attempts. The pair was booked on multiple felony counts tied to theft and fraud; exact counts may change as receipts are cataloged. Authorities did not release a total dollar figure for alleged attempted refunds and declined to say how many prior incidents at other stores are under review. Detectives are comparing SKU numbers on receipts with inventory pulls to estimate losses and identify additional victims.
Police said the alleged method is straightforward: collect or print a receipt, locate matching items on the shelves, and attempt a return for cash or store credit without ever buying the merchandise. Success relies on timing and the appearance of routine transactions, officers said, especially at busy customer service counters near the holidays. The Newnan case mirrors similar incidents reported across Georgia in recent years, where refund fraud has been linked to groups traveling between suburban shopping centers. Local departments often coordinate with loss-prevention teams to spot patterns in return histories, CCTV footage, and license plates recorded by parking lot cameras. Investigators in Newnan said they are sharing information with neighboring agencies to determine whether the same receipts or SKU lists appeared elsewhere.
As of Friday, the Adamses remained charged with multiple felonies, and police said additional counts are possible if more stores or affected dates are confirmed. The case will be forwarded to prosecutors in Coweta County for charging review. Detectives plan to finish logging the receipts, image the printer’s memory and any seized phones, and compare return transactions against store records. Authorities said they expect to provide a public update once a preliminary loss estimate is complete. Court dates were not immediately available; initial appearances typically occur within days of arrest. Target representatives referred questions to police while internal loss-prevention teams conduct their own review of transactions associated with the seized receipts and barcodes.
Outside the store on a crowded returns line, shoppers described a busy scene that made the police presence more noticeable. A customer who had been waiting to exchange electronics said the counter “slowed to a crawl” as managers checked a stack of paperwork. Another shopper said officers moved quickly once the car was located. A store employee, speaking from the parking lot after her shift, said the episode highlighted how “small barcode details” can flag suspicious activity when lines are long and receipts pile up. By evening, the customer service desk was operating normally while officers finished their on-site inventory of items connected to the receipts.
Police said the receipts and printer are now evidence and emphasized that the holiday returns window remains a peak period for attempted refund fraud. Investigators are working through the receipt bags over the weekend and expect to deliver an initial loss estimate and any added charges to prosecutors next week.
Author note: Last updated December 21, 2025.