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A 47-year-old man identified as Eduardo Rodríguez was arrested this week in Miami, accused of perpetrating a complex fraud scheme, through which he defrauded the store chains TJ Maxx and Marshalls of more than $128,000.
Rodríguez, whose nationality of origin has not been disclosed, faces charges of grand theft and attempting to engage in an organized scheme to defraud, according to police records revealed by local media.
A carefully organized fraud scheme
The investigation against Rodríguez dates back at least to 2023, when a researcher from TJX Companies, the owner of TJ Maxx and Marshalls, detected an irregularity: several credit cards showed refunds that exceeded the amounts originally paid.
The pattern was systematic. Eduardo Rodríguez would first make online purchases - mainly shoes or boots - and then return the items in-store.
That procedure generated price tags without descriptions, a key technique for concealing returns.
Subsequently, Rodríguez would repurchase the item and return it to another store, exchanging it for a lower-priced product, in order to receive credit for the more expensive item.
To maintain the deception, he reused the same receipts in different stores.
The arrest report -quoted by NBC Miami- reveals that Rodríguez used 18 credit cards and 11 gift cards to carry out his operations, all registered under his name and address.
Evading blockades and extending fraud
In January 2024, TJX blocked its address to prevent new online purchases, but Rodríguez circumvented the obstacle by using different profiles and two new addresses.
He even involved his wife and son in the fraudulent returns, extending the operation to stores throughout Miami-Dade County and other areas of Florida.
The company responded with counterintelligence: Starting in November, a loss prevention specialist began marking the items sent to Rodríguez with invisible ink.
Of the 56 flagged orders, many reappeared in different stores, confirming the ongoing fraud.
Illicit gains and points of sale
The report reveals that between December 2022 and July 2025, Rodríguez and his family made at least 1,467 fraudulent returns totaling $288,104, while they sold 744 illegally obtained items for a sum of $232,400.80.
Total losses for TJX are estimated at $128,018 from 985 fraudulent transactions recorded between January 2024 and July 2025.
The products were not only resold online and to neighbors, but also at a physical establishment: their own business in the Redland Market Village, in the city of Homestead.
Details of the arrest
Rodríguez was arrested last Tuesday, July 29, while carrying out a new fraudulent return at a TJ Maxx store in Cutler Bay.
He was returning four pairs of Timberland boots valued at $278.16 at the time he was detained.
In his vehicle, the agents found several pairs of shoes and numerous receipts; and in his home and business, items from TJX that were allegedly returned.
After his arrest, he appeared before a judge, who set bail at $40,000 and issued an order to stay away from all TJ Maxx and Marshalls stores in Miami-Dade County.
A spokesperson for TJX Companies spoke out following the news of the arrest:
"We are aware of the recent arrest and appreciate the support of the Sheriff’s Office and the Miami-Dade Police Department. Since this is an ongoing investigation, with utmost respect, we will leave any further comments to the authorities."
The case highlights the weaknesses that still exist in the return systems of large retail chains, especially when these processes can be manipulated between physical stores and online platforms.
Frequently asked questions about the fraud scheme in Miami stores
How did Eduardo Rodríguez's fraud scheme operate in Miami?
Eduardo Rodríguez was using a fraud scheme that involved making fraudulent returns at stores. He would purchase items online, return them in person to receive store credit, and then buy other lower-value items with the credit obtained, reusing receipts at different stores. Furthermore, he involved his family in the fraudulent returns.
What were the economic losses for the affected stores?
The total losses for TJX, the company that owns TJ Maxx and Marshalls, were calculated at $128,018 in 985 fraudulent transactions between January 2024 and July 2025.
What measures did the stores take to prevent fraud?
To combat fraud, TJX blocked Rodríguez's address to prevent new online purchases and marked items with invisible ink. These measures helped confirm fraudulent returns when the items reappeared in different stores.
What was the result of Eduardo Rodríguez's arrest?
Eduardo Rodríguez was arrested while attempting a fraudulent return. A bail of $40,000 was set and a ban from all TJ Maxx and Marshalls stores in Miami-Dade County was issued.
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