Legal Definitions - ringing the changes

Definition: Ringing the changes is a type of fraud where the offender uses a large bill to pay for a small purchase. They wait for the shopkeeper to put change on the counter and then create confusion by asking for smaller change or another item of little value. This confusion allows the offender to take more money than they are owed.

Example: A person buys a candy bar for $1 and pays with a $100 bill. The shopkeeper puts $99 on the counter as change. The offender then asks for smaller change or another item of little value, such as a pack of gum. While the shopkeeper is distracted, the offender takes more money than they are owed, such as taking $200 instead of $99.

This example illustrates how ringing the changes works. The offender uses a large bill to create confusion and then takes advantage of the situation to steal more money.