Meijer recently partnered with government officials, retailers, and the Michigan Retailers Association to push for the passage of the Michigan INFORM (Integrity, Notification, and Fairness in Online Retail Marketplaces for Consumers) Act, which addresses and remediates retail fraud conducted through online marketplaces.
This is part of an effort by retailers, advocates, and officials to enact at the state level versions of the INFORM Consumers Act which was introduced in the U.S. Senate last year.
The act requires digital marketplaces to collect information from third-party sellers to verify authenticity and legitimacy. Before these acts went into effect, criminals could easily sell stolen or counterfeit goods online, disproportionately impacting small, brick-and-mortar locations as bad actors could steal items from stores and sell them online.
“We’re pleased to have played our part in educating and supporting state officials in the passing of the INFORM Acts in Michigan, Ohio, and Illinois,” Meijer VP of asset protection Paul Jaeckle said in a statement. “We know the fraud that will be prevented by these Acts will positively impact brick and mortar retailers and consumers across Michigan, Ohio, and Illinois.”
The act also requires online marketplaces to disclose seller information to customers, increasing transparency when making transactions and enabling law enforcement to protect consumers and stop retail crime groups.
“By continuing to lend our voice to this important issue in partnership with our fellow retail leaders and customer advocacy groups, we hope to bring these same protections to customers and brick and mortar retailers in states across the Midwest,” Jaeckle said.
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