Fraud is becoming increasingly normalised as techniques vary and “fraud-as-a-service” platforms plague the retail sector.

A new report from Netacea found that nearly half of respondents in the UK and the US have seen advertisements on social media promoting “refund hacks” to take advantage of retail companies.

The survey polled 2000 consumers in the UK and US, finding a trend that fraud as a service forums are creeping from the digital underground into the mainstream and populating social media sites.

Their migration to mainstream social media is not only a sign that organized fraud operations are expanding, but the target audience on these channels is also a virtually unlimited source of ‘clean’ user accounts. Such accounts haven’t yet been flagged for suspicious activity on industry fraud and risk tools,” the report said.

Nearly half (45%) of respondents were targeted by ads for retail fraud guides or services on social platforms, while even more (58%) have been exposed to refund hack advice that was pretending to be normal content from influencers.

The methods appear successful so far, with just under a fifth (16%) saying they see retail fraud as a victimless crime, with most (58%) thinking retail businesses can absorb the costs of fraud.

Nearly a quarter (23%) said they had been tempted to commit fraud, with 15% saying they would even consider more serious forms of retail fraud given the right circumstances. This does have a limit though, with a third (34%) saying that fraud up to £100 is okay.

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Consumers seem more aware of retail fraud techniques than ever before. 81% were familiar with the concept of did not arrive fraud, with 44% aware about returning empty or junk-filled packages to trick the refund process.

The research also found that 16% of respondents were aware of the availability of third parties, known as ‘boxer’s that can be used as-a-service to commit fraud on a consumers behalf.

While social media has definitely contributed to the spread of fraud awareness, about one in three (34%) respondents have had their refund hacks recommended from friends rather than online.

Further, it seems that more and more consumers are unwittingly participating in retail fraud, with 80% thinking they may have been involved in a fraud initiative, either as a digital mule or even as a victim.