Retail risk, cybersecurity and law enforcement professionals convened June 23-25, 2025 in Grapevine, Texas, for NRF PROTECT 2025. Leaders tackled today’s most urgent threats — from organized retail crime and workplace violence to cyberattacks and third-party risk — while exploring how cross-functional strategies and smarter technologies are reshaping retail security. Read on for highlights from this year’s event.
NRF PROTECT offered valuable insights and actionable strategies for retailers to enhance their security measures and stay ahead of emerging threats. It underscored the importance of a proactive, comprehensive approach to retail security, emphasizing partnerships, innovation and the need to protect consumer trust. Among the many sessions and conversations, four key themes emerged:
Fraud schemes awareness: Attendees learned about various fraud schemes plaguing the retail industry, including gift card scams and account takeovers. The sessions provided actionable insights on how to stay ahead of these threats, emphasizing the importance of awareness and preparedness.
Cybersecurity focus: With the increasing digitalization of retail, cybersecurity was a major topic of discussion. Experts shared best practices for protecting customer data and preventing cyberattacks. The message was clear: As retail continues to evolve digitally, so must security measures to protect the industry.
Prioritize rebuilding consumer trust: Return fraud is not a victimless crime and is eroding consumer trust, making it not just a security issue but a branding issue as well. Artificial intelligence is being used to generate fake images of fraudulent police reports or packages, and refund groups are posing as customers to solicit legitimate shoppers. The impact of return fraud includes price increases and potentially negative customer shopping experiences. Collaboration between criminologists and retailers will play a key role in detecting fraud earlier. Simple, accessible tools and well-trained teams are key to maintaining a trustworthy shopping experience.
Modernized defenses: The conference underscored the need for modernized defenses to train teams and keep retailers secure. Leaders were encouraged to share alignment and maintain clear communication to develop incident command teams with specialized roles and responsibilities, crucial for stopping crimes early.
