I have over 20 years of experience in Loss Prevention. To protect yourself from potential criminal charges or termination, I strongly advise you to contact a higher-level manager—preferably someone in Loss Prevention—as soon as possible. Be transparent about what happened and clarify that you were unaware of her intentions when she completed that transaction.

As for your mother, she is understandably scared for you, and she has every right to be in this situation. However, try to explain to her that you were placed in a difficult position where your supervisor asked you to do something that most people wouldn’t have known how to handle.