Which of the following would be considered a warning sign of sweethearting?

Sweethearting is a type of employee theft that occurs when a cashier or employee gives special treatment to a friend or family member, allowing them to receive discounts or free merchandise without following the proper procedures.

The option highlighting unusually low transaction totals with high-volume discounts is a clear warning sign of sweethearting because it indicates that an employee is manipulating the transaction in favor of a personal acquaintance, typically leading to sales or discounts inconsistent with standard policy. Such actions generally violate the rules of transaction processing and suggest that the employee may be engaging in fraud to benefit someone they know.

On the other hand, other options, while related to sales and returns, do not specifically point to the act of sweethearting. For example, frequent high-value returns could indicate a problem with return policies or potential return fraud, but it does not directly imply that the employee is giving unauthorized discounts or favors. Similarly, consistent pricing anomalies might flag issues with inventory pricing or marketing strategies, rather than signaling improper employee-customer relationships. Lastly, management approval needed for every transaction indicates a lack of trust or control in the transaction process but does not imply that sweethearting is taking place; it could be a standard operating procedure in a high-risk environment. Thus, while these options reflect potential loss prevention