PHOENIX — A Pennsylvania man has been sentenced to three and a half years in federal prison for orchestrating an online refund scheme that defrauded major retailers out of more than $2.6 million.
Louis Perpignan, 33, of Bethlehem, operated what he called the “Members Only Refund Service” from 2016 to 2021, offering to secure fraudulent refunds for customers on high-end items like televisions and designer handbags. He then collected a fee of up to 25% of the item’s price from the client.
To carry out the scam, Perpignan impersonated customers and tricked companies into issuing refunds for goods that were either never returned or allegedly never delivered—allowing clients to both receive a refund and keep the product.
Authorities said he defrauded at least 31 retailers across the country, using the illicit profits to fund an extravagant lifestyle, including the purchase of at least eight vehicles. Among them was a Lamborghini Huracan worth $176,000.
In addition to his 42-month prison sentence, Perpignan was ordered to serve three years of supervised release and repay more than $2.6 million in restitution.
The case was investigated by federal agencies focused on cybercrime and financial fraud.
