Woman Scams Walmart Out of $99 Gift Card, Police Allege

NEWPORT, RI—Police went to Festival Field Apartments on Tuesday at 1:31 p.m. to take Laura Fe Ramos, 35, of Newport, into custody. According to the arrest report, the police were called by Walmart's loss prevention personnel.

The store said around 11:45 a.m. on Tuesday, Ramos and a man entered the Connell Highway Walmart through the Lawn and Garden Center. Neither was carrying a package when they entered, according to the surveillance tape.They walked around the store with an empty cart for several minutes but then went to the housewares aisle. Shortly after, they split up. Ramos went to the service desk and presented a Kitchen Aid appliance, which was in a Walmart store bag.

She allegedly indicated she wanted to return the item and did not have a receipt. Ramos was given a $99 gift card as a refund. Then she bought two loaves of bread, which she paid for with a welfare benefits card.

She and the man left the store around noon.

Police looked at the store surveillance tape and said they recognized Ramos and the man with her. They went to her apartment around 1 p.m. to arrest her.

Police allege she told them she used the gift card at the Connell Highway Stop & Shop to buy groceries. She did it only "to feed her children," she allegedly said.

According to the arrest report, Ramos also told them money had been "tight," and she had been thinking for days about what she could do. Then a friend told her Walmart gives refunds without a receipt.

She was charged with two misdemeanors, obtaining money (less than $1,500) under false pretenses and larceny under $1,500.