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 6/7/21

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The Rise of Pandemic-Driven Retail Fraud:
How Brands Are Leveraging Prescriptive Analytics to Fight Back

By Guy Yehiav, Vice President & General Manager, Zebra Analytics

With margins already tightened by the financial impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, the oft-undetected but constant siphon of funds caused by fraud is devastating for retailers. A recent study revealed the cost of fraud to U.S. retailers and e-commerce companies rose 7 percent in 2020, with every $1 of fraud costing companies $3.36 in losses.

By leveraging prescriptive analytics, retailers are relying on powerful data-driven software to identify instances of fraud and noncompliance, recommend corrective action, and prevent it from happening again both in stores and online.

Minimizing Brick-and-Mortar Fraud

To create a safe and healthy in-store shopping experience during the pandemic, many retailers updated their operations and processes to include social distancing measures. They enhanced self-checkout offerings, which minimized employee presence on the floor. While these measures were critical to supporting community health, they have unfortunately opened the door to fraud committed by employees and customers alike

Continue Reading
 

Maverik Selects Zebra and Reflexis to Streamline Store Execution and Labor Scheduling

Reflexis Systems (now part of Zebra Technologies), a leading provider of intelligent workforce management and execution solutions for multi-site businesses in retail, food service, hospitality and banking, today announced that Maverik - Adventure's First Stop, has selected Reflexis ONE to integrate and streamline store execution and labor scheduling for more than 6,000 team members across 360+ locations.

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Violence & Protests

Summer 2021: "Going to be worse than last year, for sure."


Police in Cities Across U.S. Brace for a Violent Summer
Lifting of Covid restrictions, rise in gun purchases have officials on edge heading into warmer months

Crime experts fear summer 2021 violence could be worse than last year as shooting, murder uptick starts early

369 people were shot in the past 72 hours as of Friday afternoon, the Gun Violence Archive says

Police departments in New York City and other large metro areas across the U.S. are bulking up patrols and implementing new tactics to prepare for what they say could be a violent summer.

Police should brace for a potentially more violent summer than last year as crime trends show the bloodshed in some parts of the country, such as New York City, picked up earlier than is typically expected, analysts and experts say.

States lifting Covid-19 restrictions and more people out in public spaces in warmer weather increase the likelihood of more shootings, as well as less-serious crimes, officials say. Many crimes, including violent ones, normally rise in summer. Gun purchases also rose during the pandemic and cities have seen an increase in guns being used in crimes.

Shootings and homicides in big U.S. cities are up this year again after rising last year. In the last three months of 2020, homicides rose 32.2% in cities with a population of at least one million.

"It's not getting any better," Joseph Giacalone, an adjunct professor with the John Jay College of Criminal Justice, told Fox News. "Let's put it this way: New York City is already ahead of last year's pace, but last year, the homicides and shootings really started spiking at the end of May and into June. So that will be the real tale of the tape, so to speak, to see what's happening over there."

"So, if you look at New York, Chicago, St. Louis, Baltimore, you name the big cities and they're having huge problems," Giacalone added. The fast-approaching summer months generally bring out "more crime because there are more people out there. Continue Reading

Fed's Partner, Expand & Fund Gun Violence Initiatives in Baltimore
Increasing prosecution of gun related crimes in Baltimore

U.S. Attorney's Office and State and Local Partners Announce Expansion of Firearms Prosecution Initiative Targeting Gun Violence in Baltimore
Also Announced Funding for Community Outreach and Intervention Efforts; Increased State Funding to Hire Additional Prosecutors Builds on 84 Federal Gun Possession Cases Charged in Baltimore Since January 2020 - Despite Pandemic

Baltimore, Maryland - Today, Acting United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Jonathan F. Lenzner announced a significant expansion of the U.S. Attorney's Office's collaborative initiative with state and local law enforcement to prosecute the illegal possession of firearms in Baltimore. The expansion of the initiative, known as Project EXILE, includes state funding to hire additional prosecutors to bring firearms-related offenses in federal court and for a media campaign supporting outreach efforts into Baltimore neighborhoods. justice.gov

Burglaries Never Stopped During Shutdown
LA Restaurant Crime Up 32% Between February & April

Los Angeles Restaurants Already Seeing Crime Spike Even Before Scheduled June 15th Full Opening
Some operators have already seen an unwanted sign of people leaving their homes: burglary, vandalism and other crimes.

There were 187 crimes at restaurants reported to police in April, up from 160 in March and 142 in February, according to Los Angeles Police Department data.

Overall crime in Los Angeles from Jan. 1-April 30 this year is 5.5% below the same period in 2020.

Lilly Rocha, executive director of the Latino Restaurant Association, was surprised to learn about the increase in crime, but was aware of many restaurants being targeted for "dine and dash" schemes.

According to police data, bodily force was used in 17% of restaurant crimes reported from Feb. 1-April 30 (the period when incidents began rising). There were 61 instances of assault and vandalism.

In particular, burglaries at restaurants have been increasing, going from 31 incidents in February to 41 in April. Burglaries accounted for 20% of all crime reported at Los Angeles restaurants from Feb. 1-April 30.

Burglaries never stopped in LA during shutdown.

Although most restaurants in Los Angeles were forced to halt in-person service for much of 2020, burglaries never ceased, perhaps reflecting opportunistic thieves who took advantage of the lack of customers. In January 2020 there were 43 restaurant burglaries, followed by 30 the next month and 48 in March. There were 49 burglaries in April, the first full month of the shutdown, and at least 34 every month during the rest of the year. xtown.la

     

The Atlas of Surveillance
Really cool interactive map! Check it out

The Electronic Frontier Foundation Interactive Map of Police Tech in the U.S.
From law enforcement fusion centers to drone usage, body-worn cameras, license plate readers, Ring Neighbors Partnership, Gunshot Detection, Predictive Policing, Real-Time Crime Center, Cell-Site Simulator, Camera Registry, Face Recognition, and Video Analytics this interactive map shows who's using the technology.

With researchers combing locals and keeping this map up to date. Check it out. Remember must be online to connect to the interactive version. atlasofsurveillance.org


 



COVID Update

301.6M Vaccinations Given

US: 34.2M Cases - 612.3K Dead - 28.1M Recovered
Worldwide: 174M Cases - 3.7M Dead - 157.1M Recovered


Former Senior Loss Prevention Executive
Know of any fallen LP exec? Let's remember & recognize.


Private Industry Security Guard Deaths: 279   Law Enforcement Officer Deaths: 305
*Red indicates change in total deaths

U.S. Covid-19 Deaths Fall to Lowest Point Since March 2020
As vaccinations rise, the seven-day average of reported deaths has dropped below 500

"This milestone reinforces that the U.S. is in the homestretch of the epidemic, thanks to vaccinations," said Andrew Brouwer, an assistant research scientist in epidemiology at the University of Michigan.

The high rates of vaccinations among elderly people, who are most likely to die from Covid-19 infections, have helped push the number of deaths lower. And the steady decline in newly reported cases indicates that deaths, a lagging indicator, will continue to shrink. wsj.com

Fry's Foods, Kroger Division, HR Mgr - Fraudulent COVID Testing Invoices & Ghost Employee Payroll
Human Resources Manager Pleads Guilty to Defrauding Employer Through Payroll and COVID-19 Testing Schemes
BOISE - Douglas Wold, 48, of Meridian, pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud, one count of mail fraud, and one count of money laundering based on schemes to defraud his employer, Fry Foods, Inc., during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.

According to court records, Wold worked as a Human Resources Manager for Fry Foods, Inc. in Ontario, Oregon, and executed two separate schemes.

First, beginning in at least May 2020 and continuing through August 2020, Wold committed wire fraud by submitting fraudulent payroll requests for individuals who never worked at Fry Foods or who no longer worked at Fry Foods at the time of the payroll requests. Payroll checks were processed based on Wold's requests. Wold then deposited these fraudulent payroll checks into his own bank accounts.

Second, Wold committed mail fraud with respect to a COVID-19 testing program at Fry Foods' Weiser, Idaho location in May 2020. Wold issued a fraudulent invoice to Fry Foods in the name of his business, Hala Lallo Health, for $39,995 when, in fact, the testing was provided by another entity and at a greatly lower cost. When Fry Foods paid Hala Lallo Health for the testing, Wold deposited the funds into a bank account he controlled and the company that actually provided the testing was not paid.

Wold committed the offense of engaging in monetary transactions in property derived from unlawful activity by transferring $69,116.48 in proceeds from his frauds for the purchase a speedboat and trailer.

Wire fraud and mail fraud carry a penalty of up to 20 years in federal prison, a maximum fine of $250,000, and up to three years of supervised release. Money laundering carries a penalty of up to ten years in federal prison, a maximum fine of $250,000, and up to three years of supervised release. justice.gov

CFOs' essential role in promoting employee mental health
For professional accountants, mental health issues heighten the risk of not identifying errors in financial reports or spotting indicators of fraud.

The coronavirus pandemic has put a long-overdue spotlight on mental health. Clinical studies have found a strong correlation between pandemic-related anxiety and behaviors, such as hopelessness or substance abuse, that companies cannot afford to ignore. Implementing an organizational framework to support mental health is not only the right thing to do, it's smart for business. With the potential to alleviate human and financial costs, support for mental health should be seen as core to the finance function's role in promoting sustainable value creation.

In 2019, the World Health Organization estimated that mental health issues cost the global economy upward of $1 trillion per year. In the wake of the past year, that cost is likely to increase considerably, reinforcing the need for mental health to be a key priority for employers and organizations worldwide. cfodive.com

UK Retailers Not Paying Rent During Lockdown
2/3 of retailers face legal action once the moratorium ends in July over £2.9bn in unpaid rents
With non-essential retailers closed due to lockdowns for eight of the last 15 months, many have accrued huge debts that they are only just beginning to be able to pay. For the first quarter of the year showed that one in seven shops currently lie empty, and this number is expected to rise.

The BRC said that without action, and where agreement between landlords and retailers cannot be reached by July 1, thousands of shops will be at risk of shutting down.

"Without action, it will be our city centres, our high streets and our shopping centres that suffer the consequences, holding back the wider economic recovery." retailgazette.co.uk

'Hybrid Dressing'
You're Finally Going Back to the Office. What Are You Going to Wear?
The rules about what to wear to the office are gone. Now retailers, workers and employers are trying to figure out what will work in a world in which the traditional dress code might never come back.

After more than a year of working from home, millions of Americans are heading back to the office-and they need new clothes. That offers a rare opportunity to retailers, who are trying to anticipate what their customers will now want to wear to work. Many brands are scaling back their production of suits, adding more stretch to their pants and using new phrases such as "workleisure." They are turning out yoga pants that look like dress pants, T-shirts you can wear to work and a dressier version of cork-lined sandals dubbed the "Work Birk."

'No one is tucking in their shirts': wsj.com


 



Dallas City Council Cracks Down on C-Store Crime With New Ordinances
Here's how Dallas convenience stores must beef up security to deter crime
An extra camera and lighting are some of the changes now required by the city.

All Dallas convenience stores are now required to have more surveillance cameras, working outside lights and ATMs bolted to the floor.

The changes are part of new city code to address neighborhood businesses linked to crimes and quality-of-life concerns.

The new rules approved by the Dallas City Council on Wednesday will allow the code enforcement department to take over most convenience store inspections from the Police Department. The change is meant to free up officers to only focus on stores that draw the most crime and resident complaints. It's also to increase the frequency of inspections and tracking of convenience stores.

A sharper focus on convenience stores in the city that drive criminal activity is part of Dallas police Chief Eddie García's recently unveiled plan to try to decrease violent crime.

Increased outdoor lighting also has been previously identified by Mayor Eric Johnson's task force on safe communities as a possible crime deterrent. The city has since launched an initiative to improve streetlights in certain areas.

Johnson in March said city data showed crime and 911 calls were down this year in the area surrounding South Dallas' Opportunity Park after more than 70 new lights were installed two months earlier.

Before Wednesday, the city required convenience stores to install at least two color, high-resolution surveillance cameras, one with a clear view of the cash register and the other where the faces of everyone who enters are visible.

The new requirements would call for at least a third camera that clearly captures the faces of people leaving the store.

The cameras would be required to have a minimum resolution of two megapixels that record at least 15 frames per second. The footage must be kept for a minimum of 30 days.

The new rule would also require working lights that illuminate all sides of the main building, parking area and any fuel pump stations. ATMs need to be secured or bolted to the floor at least 12 feet away from glass windows and doors.

Store owners found violating the new rules could be fined up to $500. dallasnew.com

King County ban on police use of facial recognition software spotlights local movements across US
As federal legislation on law enforcement's use of facial recognition software stalls, dozens of cities and counties are taking measures into their own hands.

Facial recognition opponents rejoiced this week after the local government of King County, Washington voted to ban local police from using the technology.

The move was notable for a number of reasons. The ACLU of Washington said in a statement that the new King County ban on police use of facial recognition software was the first in the country to be county-wide and cover multiple cities.

Electronic Frontier Foundation senior staff attorney Adam Schwartz added that it was the most populous government body to institute a ban, with more than two million residents within its borders. The ban was also hailed among privacy advocates as a direct shot at Microsoft and Amazon, both of which have headquarters in King County's biggest city: Seattle. zdnet.com

Biden Leaves Security Providers on Chinese Blacklist
Biden Expands Blacklist of Chinese Companies Banned From U.S. Investment
Move shows Biden's willingness to continue some of the hard-line China policies started by former President Trump

An executive order Mr. Biden signed Thursday brings to 59 the total number of Chinese companies banned from receiving American investment and shows how his administration is continuing some of the hard-line China policies left by former President Donald Trump.

The action is one of the firmest to date as the Biden administration conducts a broad review of China policy, including how to deal with tariffs and other trade measures taken by Mr. Trump. So far the administration has advanced few concrete actions against Beijing, though the U.S. recently joined allies in imposing sanctions against Chinese officials engaged in the mass incarceration of mainly Muslim ethnic minorities in the Xinjiang region. wsj.com

Korn Ferry says expect more retail CEO turnover
Just eight new CEOs, which include heavyweights Amazon and Walgreens, manage a big slice of retail with more than $1.7 trillion in market cap.

If you work in retailing, chances are you have a new CEO - or you will soon.

Changes at the top began in earnest during the pandemic, and the momentum of new CEO announcements will continue through 2021 "because new leaders are needed to drive growth in this radically new retail environment," according to a new report from the largest executive search firm, Korn Ferry.

Most of the moves so far have been from founder/CEOs and longtime CEOs who triggered succession plans. At Amazon, Walgreens, Ulta Beauty, Kendra Scott and The Container Store, the new leaders were chosen to drive dramatic changes that were planned even before the global health crisis forced the industry to re-evaluate its future. dallasnews.com

Benchmarking: Walmart gives 740,000 associates a free Samsung smartphone
The retailer is outfitting nearly half of its US workforce, amounting to 740,000 employees, with a free phone by the end of the year for personal and professional use. The phone, a Samsung Galaxy XCover Pro, normally retails for $499 and Walmart is giving employees a case and protection plan, too.

Walmart said the primary use of the phone is for its new employee app called Me@Walmart, which the company explained in a release is meant to "simplify daily tasks, serve our customers and plan for life outside of work."

Some of the app's features include scheduling, clocking in to their shift and a voice-activated personal assistant for work that "saves time by letting associates ask the app questions to quickly locate merchandise and get answers for customers."

Walmart claims it doesn't have access to any personal data on the phone and employees can access the app only while they're working. Prior to this program, Walmart employees had to share company-owned smartphones and the response following the initial test with personal phones was "good." cnn.com

Macy's adds another 30 days on AP's to vendors - Up 21.6% from LY
Some Companies Are Taking Longer to Pay Suppliers Despite Recovery
Macy's and Mondelez are among the businesses negotiating longer payment terms after getting used to them during the pandemic

Big U.S. companies on average took 58 days to pay suppliers in their first quarters of fiscal 2021, up 5.5% from 55 days in the comparable period last year, according to research from Hackett Group Inc.

For fiscal 2020, businesses took 62 days on average to settle their dues with suppliers, up 7.6% from the previous year, Hackett said. The full-year data set includes 1,000 companies.

"Term extensions have not gone away," said Craig Bailey, an associate principal at Hackett Group. Companies, particularly in industries hit hard by the pandemic such as retail, remain cautious about the year ahead as changes to consumer spending patterns during the pandemic have made forecasting demand more difficult, Mr. Bailey said.

Department-store operator Macy's Inc. has benefited from longer payment terms with its suppliers, Chief Financial Officer Adrian Mitchell said on a May 18 earnings call. It took the company 163 days on average to settle its bills during the first quarter, up from 134 days a year earlier, up 21.6%, according to Hackett. The company in its latest quarter had about $1.8 billion in cash on its balance sheet, up 18% from a year earlier. wsj.com

Editor's Note: Just one example of many. As the solution providers feel the final impact. A traditional role for everyone.

Amazon Hits the Bullseye - Fooling Everybody in the Process
From $6B to $1B Price Tag in 5 Yrs - Amazon Wins in 5 Yrs

Staples Proposes To Acquire The ODP Corporation's Consumer Business for $1B (Stores & Direct Channel business)
Editor's Note: In 2016 the FTC blocked the merger of Staples and Office Depot shocking many who believed the merger was necessary to keep the companies competitive with Amazon.

After several months of battling in court, the FTC blocked the approximately $6 billion merger of Staples and Office Depot in 2016. While most seemed shocked by the news, wondering why the FTC would block a deal that could potentially help Staples and Office Depot keep up with the internet giant, Amazon.

'There's no doubt Amazon was the big beneficiary of the merger falling through'. Just follow the money. In 2016 Staples was willing to pay $6B and today the price is $1B. That's $5B less in 5 years. So in essence Amazon cost those two retailers $1 billion a year. Not to mention hundreds of jobs and lost stock value for pension funds who failed to read the tea leaves and sell.

Now there's a lot more to the story, but leave it to say that the FTC thought they knew better, the Judge over thought it and Amazon, who played a significant role in the entire process including testifying in court, the FTC actually studying their office supply business and strategy - and Amazon coming out against the merger claiming it created a monopoly on the business services side. Bottom line is that Amazon pulled the wool over everybody while they watched Staples and Office Depot struggle in this harsh retail climate while Amazon pointed their guns right at them. Which was the plan all along that the Judge failed to see or recognize. With Amazon knowing full well were it would end up. And quite frankly even with this proposed merger it's only a matter of time before they dwindle even more.

Huge Boon to Crypto Currency - 1st C-Store Chain Adopts it
Sheetz 622 C-stores to accept crypto currencies
The Flexa payment system works by converting crypto currencies to their real-time dollar value as payment to retailers. A few other retailers have piloted Flexa, including Barnes & Noble, Bed Bath & Beyond, Crate & Barrel, GameStop, Lowe's, Nordstrom, Office Depot/OfficeMax, Petco, and Whole Foods Market.   retailleader.com


Quarterly Results
Costco May Comp's Up 22.8% overall, net sales up 24.2%

Nordstrom Q1 Brand net sales up 37%, Rack net sales up 59%, digital sales up 23%, total net sales up 44%

Five Below Q1 comp's up 162%, net sales up 197.6%

Lululemon Q1 company operated store revenue up 43.8%, E-commerce up 44.4%, sales up 88%

Dollar General Q1 comp's up 4.9%, net sales up 0.6%

SpartanNash Q1 retail business unit comp's down 7%, retail unit net sales down 5.5%, food distribution segment net sales down 2.6%, overall net sales down 7%
 



Senior LP & AP Jobs Market

Head of Asset Protection job posted for Ollie's Bargain Outlet in Harrisburg, PA
The Head of Asset Protection mitigates both external and internal security related risks for the organization through the development and management of policies, procedures, programs, and systems, across the Company. This position leads a team to drive the Company's operational audit process, partner and train field teams on key operational drivers to reduce shortage and conduct investigations into, fraud, abuse, or other misconduct. indeed.com
 



Last week's #1 article --

2 airlines will postpone serving alcohol amid surge of in-flight violence
Since Jan. 1, the Federal Aviation Administration has received about 2,500 reports of unruly behavior by passengers, including about 1,900 reports of passengers refusing to comply with a federal mandate that they wear masks on planes. "We have just never seen anything like this," Sara Nelson, the international president of the Association of Flight Attendants, said during an online meeting with federal aviation officials Wednesday. "We've never seen it so bad." startribune.com



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[Whitepaper] Combating a 55% Increase in BOPIS Fraud

Since the beginning of the Pandemic, there has been a 55% increase in the rate of fraudulent attempts to purchase products online for in-store pickup.

Buy Online Pickup in Store (BOPIS) fraud was already a problem pre-COVID but unfortunately the pandemic has only accelerated this issue. The percentage of fraudulent BOPIS purchases is above average with companies reporting a loss of 3-5% (with some as high as 10% or more).

Enabling the convenience of BOPIS without forsaking massive loss is the delicate balance that Loss Prevention professionals now face which is why we've created this easy guide to balancing BOPIS and LP.

This white paper covers:

  • Benefits & Challenges to BOPIS that every multi-unit brand should know
  • The key indicators present during cases of BOPIS-related fraud
  • Why analytics & reporting are at the heart of any successful BOPIS strategy
  • And more...

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First Time the FBI Director Takes a Public Stand

FBI Director Compares Ransomware Challenge to 9/11
Christopher Wray points to Russian hackers, calls for coordinated fight across U.S. society

FBI Director Christopher Wray said the agency was investigating about 100 different types of ransomware, many tracing back to hackers in Russia, and compared the current spate of cyberattacks with the challenge posed by the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.

"There are a lot of parallels, there's a lot of importance, and a lot of focus by us on disruption and prevention," Mr. Wray said in an interview Thursday. "There's a shared responsibility, not just across government agencies but across the private sector and even the average American."

Mr. Wray's comments-among his first publicly since two recent ransomware attacks gripped the U.S. meat and oil-and-gas industries-come as senior Biden administration officials have characterized ransomware as an urgent national-security threat and said they are looking at ways to disrupt the criminal ecosystem that supports the booming industry. Each of the 100 different malicious software variants are responsible for multiple ransomware attacks in the U.S., Mr. Wray said.

"The scale of this problem is one that I think the country has to come to terms with," he said.

Complaints to the FBI and reports from the private sector show ransomware incidents have tripled in the past year, Mr. Wray said. While private-sector estimates of the toll to the U.S. economy vary, companies that track ransomware generally put the cost at hundreds of millions or billions of dollars annually and say it is rapidly increasing.

In the interview, Mr. Wray singled out Russia as harboring many of the known users of ransomware. wsj.com

Ransomware Gangs Now Treated Like Terrorists
Huge Move - High Priority Cases for DOJ & FBI Now

DOJ signals plans to coordinate anti-ransomware efforts with the same protocols as it does for terrorism
The Justice Department signaled Thursday it plans to coordinate its anti-ransomware efforts with the same protocols as it does for terrorism, following a slew of cyberattacks that have disrupted key infrastructure sectors ranging from gasoline distribution to meatpacking.

On Thursday, Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco issued an internal memo directing US prosecutors to report all ransomware investigations they may be working on, in a move designed to better coordinate the US government's tracking of online criminals.

The memo cites ransomware -- malicious software that seizes control of a computer until the victim pays a fee -- as an urgent threat to the nation's interests.

The tracking effort is expansive, covering not only the DOJ's pursuit of ransomware criminals themselves but also the cryptocurrency tools they use to receive payments, automated computer networks that spread ransomware and online marketplaces used to advertise or sell malicious software. cnn.com

Follow-the-Money Rule In Effect Now
Tightening the Noose Around the Money Flow
WH exploring possible ways to trace transactions that line hackers' pockets

White House officials this week said they are pushing to better trace ransomware payments, which hackers demand to unlock companies' data.

Some cybersecurity experts say the spate of attacks underscores the need for a more aggressive approach to monitoring crypto payments. In April, a task force of major tech companies and U.S. officials called for governments to enforce know-your-customer rules, similar to Treasury regulations, to improve transparency and accountability of bitcoin and other digital money.

But hackers and the exchanges that process their payouts often operate overseas, limiting Washington's regulatory power. Improved oversight of cryptocurrency exchanges abroad, which some cyber experts say face lower regulatory standards, could require international cooperation or pressure.

Ransomware specialists, however, are skeptical that restrictions on bitcoin payments or tighter regulations will slow the growth in ransomware. Restrictions on individual digital currencies such as bitcoin mean criminals will just switch to another, less-regulated, currency, and any regulation strong enough to deter payments to criminals will take a long time to develop.

"Virtually every exchange around the world is dealing in some form or fashion with U.S. currency," Mr. Alperovitch said. "The U.S. could absolutely pressure all of them through sanctions and the like to adopt the same policies." wsj.com

Track Record & Reputation Impacts Loan Terms
The Unseen Cost of Data Breaches - But Your C Team Knows!

Data Breaches Drive Higher Loan Interest Rates
Companies that experience a data breach may not suffer a long-term drop in stock price, but will often have to pay higher loan interest rates and grant other concessions, according to a study published this week.

The academic study, conducted by researchers at Yeshiva University in New York City and Hong Kong Polytechnic University, found the average company paid almost $3.7 million more in interest every year. Businesses with a strong reputation for IT security, which often have more favorable loan terms compared to their peers, suffered more following a breach.

These results underscore how banks charge companies for the uncertainty following a breach.

"After a breach, because of the direct and indirect costs, there is a lot of uncertainty in respect [to] the company's future," he says. "What happens with regulatory action? What happens with litigation? What happens if a major customer leaves? It's uncertainty, and banks hate uncertainty." darkreading.com

RaaS Syndicates - Equal-Opportunity Attackers - The Trend Will Continue
Ransomware-as-a-Service syndicates becoming increasingly brazen

The True Cost of a Ransomware Attack
Companies need to prepare for the costs of an attack now, before they get attacked. Here's a checklist to help.

Ransomware is an equal-opportunity attack, and any organization can become a target. Therefore, every company should be preparing for this threat, not only in terms of preventive measures like malware detection, network traffic analysis, data leak prevention, and data backups, but also anticipating the costs they should expect to pay.

In most of these cases, companies don't realize all the potential costs they may incur during a ransomware attack.

Here is a list of some of the costs that companies need to prepare for now, before they get attacked:

1. Cyber Insurance
Know what your deductible is as well. While this isn't a direct cost, it will still cost you money.

2. Incident Response
The ransomware didn't just appear in your network. You need to figure out the root cause, what the attackers did in your network, and what (if any) data was taken. There are likely compromised users or systems with backdoors that weren't affected by the ransomware still on your network. If you don't find them, this attack will happen again in a few weeks.

Incident response (IR) companies help you figure all of this out. They come into your organization, investigate the attack, and give you the assistance you need to make it through containment, eradication, and recovery of the incident.

One tip: If you don't have an internal IR team, get an IR retainer. This will have someone available to you 24x7x365 to assist if you have an incident. Continue Reading

Russian Creator of Dark Web Marketplace DEER.IO - Only Gets 30 Months
3,000 Shops - $17M in Sales - Sold $1.2M in U.S. Stolen Information

Russian Hacker Sentenced to 30 Months for Running a Website Selling Stolen, Counterfeit and Hacked Accounts
Surprise: FBI Waiting for him when he got off the plane from Moscow at JFK - Wow Rewards Must Work

SAN DIEGO - Kirill Victorovich Firsov, a Russian citizen, was sentenced to 30 months in custody for his role as the administrator of a website that catered to cyber criminals by virtually selling items such as stolen credit card information, other personal information and services to be used for criminal activity.

The now-defunct online platform DEER.IO started operations as of at least October 2013, and, as of Firsov's arrest in March 2020, the platform hosted approximately 3,000 active shops with sales exceeding $17 million. Although Firsov maintained that the bulk of the sales on DEER.IO were Russian accounts, the parties agreed that the government could show that shop owners on the DEER.IO platform sold at least $1.2 million in U.S.-based stolen information, to include the gamer accounts identified in the plea agreement.

At sentencing, the prosecutor noted that Firsov built the DEER.IO platform in 2013 and maintained it for almost seven years.

Even though it sold stolen accounts, DEER.IO was not cloaked in secrecy and required no special password for access, because everything was run out of Russia, and American law enforcement could gain no foothold. On March 7, 2020, Firsov was arrested by the FBI in New York City when he flew into JFK Airport from Moscow. justice.gov

New: Promote Your PCI SSC Certification with a Digital Badge
The PCI SSC offers a range of  training and certification programs to support businesses in their payment security efforts. To help support the Council's mission to educate and meet the needs of payment industry professionals, PCI SSC has recently launched a digital badging program. We talk with Travis Powell, Director of Training Programs, to learn more about this new program.

Travis Powell: Digital badging is a way to recognize individual achievements and industry certifications. Most professionals may already have been issued these types of badges through other industry certification bodies such as ISC2, ISACA or even VMWare. Digital badging is a trusted source by many industry organizations.   blog.pcisecuritystandards.org

 


 

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Netflix VP IT Guilty Taking Kickbacks From 9 Vendors
CEO corners him on forcing a program on his team

Former Netflix Executive Convicted Of Receiving Bribes And Kickbacks From Companies Contracting With Netflix
Federal Jury Finds Former Netflix Vice President Guilty of Fraud for Obtaining Pay-To-Play Bribes and Kickbacks from Tech Startups Seeking to Sell to Netflix

SAN JOSE - A federal jury convicted Michael Kail, the former Vice President of IT Operations at Netflix, of wire fraud, mail fraud, and money laundering.

Kail was indicted May 1, 2018, of nineteen counts of wire fraud, three counts of mail fraud, and seven counts of money laundering. The jury returned a verdict of guilty on 28 of the 29 counts.

Kail, 49, of Los Gatos, was employed at Netflix as the Vice President in charge of IT Operations from 2011 until July 2014.

As Netflix's Vice President of IT Operations, Kail approved contracts to purchase IT products and services from smaller outside vendor companies and authorized their payment. The evidence demonstrated that Kail accepted bribes in 'kickbacks' from nine tech companies providing products or services to Netflix. In exchange, Kail approved millions of dollars in contracts for goods and services to be provided to Netflix. Kail ultimately received over $500,000 and stock options from these outside companies. He used his kickback payments to pay personal expenses and to buy a home in Los Gatos, California, in the name of a family trust.

Editor's Note: The story surrounding the other 8 vendors and how he eventually put himself in a corner with Netflix's CEO after trying to force the IT team to use a software program they didn't like, culminates in his departure and eventual arrest. Leave it to say he got greedy and went way overboard thinking he couldn't get caught.

Kail faces a maximum sentence of twenty years in prison and a fine of $250,000, or twice his gross gain or twice the gross loss to Netflix, whichever is greater, for each count of a wire or mail fraud conviction, and ten years in prison and a fine of $250,000 for each count of a money laundering conviction. justice.gov

Treating it the same as alcohol
Amazon Drops Marijuana Screening, Supports Federal MORE Act
Congress is considering several bills to legalize cannabis

Amazon is adjusting its drug-testing policy for U.S. field operations teams and will no longer screen for marijuana in many circumstances, according to a June 1 announcement. Clark said the online retail giant will continue to monitor for on-the-job impairment and conduct post-incident drug and alcohol tests.

"In the past, like many employers, we've disqualified people from working at Amazon if they tested positive for marijuana use," said Amazon retail executive Dave Clark. "However, given where state laws are moving across the U.S., we've changed course. We will no longer include marijuana in our comprehensive drug-screening program for any positions not regulated by the Department of Transportation and will instead treat it the same as alcohol use." shrm.org

Miami Serial Porch Pirate Gets 10 Yrs Federal Prison
On supervised release from robbing a letter carrier when he got busted this last time
Miami, Florida - A 26-year-old Miami man has been sentenced to 10 years in federal prison for stealing mail and packages from mailboxes, porches, and other outside areas of several homes in Miami and Coral Gables.

Yunior L. Blanco-Pedroso, was pulled over on September 8, 2020, while driving a blue BMW. Inside the BMW, officers discovered mail, packages and checks addressed to other people that Blanco-Pedroso had stolen. Blanco-Pedroso later admitted to committing 10 porch burglaries between August and September 2020 in Miami and Coral Gables. Other evidence in the case included home surveillance recordings showing Blanco-Pedroso following delivery trucks, walking up to front doors to steal packages, and stealing mail from mailboxes. When he committed these burglaries in 2020, Blanco-Pedroso was on supervised release following a previous conviction and sentence for robbing a letter carrier. justice.gov


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DOJ Cases - Totaling 39 Suspects - Over $5 Million


Is this the Kmart Breach from 2017?
Biggest Data Breach Bust Yet - This is a first! Arrested 22 of the Street Level End Users 4 Yrs Later

Federal Indictment Charges 22 Individuals With Purchasing and Using Payment Cards Stolen From National Retail Chain
Chicago - Twenty-two individuals have been indicted on fraud and identity theft charges for allegedly purchasing and using credit, debit, and gift cards that were stolen in a cyber attack from a national retain chain.

According to an indictment unsealed in the Northern District of Illinois, the cyber attack occurred in 2016 and 2017 when an individual installed a malicious software program on multiple computers of the retail chain, which is headquartered in the Chicago area. The malware allowed the co-schemer to capture data from more than three million payment cards, including credit cards, debit cards, and gift cards, that had been used at more than 400 of the company's retail stores. The co-schemer then sold the card data for $4 million in bitcoin to another individual, who in turn sold it online to thousands of others, including the 22 charged defendants, the indictment states.

The defendants used data from the cards to purchase items at businesses throughout the country, including restaurants, gas stations, and hotels, the charges allege. At least 80 people were victimized by the defendants' conduct, the indictment states.

Twenty defendants were arrested this month and have begun making initial appearances in federal courts throughout the country. Two defendants remain at large and are believed to be residing overseas. The investigation remains ongoing.

Wire fraud is punishable by up to 20 years in federal prison, while aggravated identity theft carries a mandatory, consecutive prison sentence of two years. If convicted, the Court must impose a reasonable sentence under federal statutes and the advisory U.S. Sentencing Guidelines. justice.gov

Editor's Note: This has got to be the Kmart data breach from May 31, 2017. As Krebs reported on his blog here. With a number of indicators: Headquartered in Chicago, more than three million cards used in over 400 stores - at the time Kmart had 735 stores. And no one else in Chicago with those store numbers reported a breach over the two year period the DOJ mentions.

Interesting points of the case: The initial hacker sold the 3 million cards for $4 million in 'bitcoin,' the middle man sold those cards to 'thousands of others'. Which meant they moved quickly. Remember they're being tested along the way to make sure they're still valuable. And they were used nationwide.

Busting these 22 means the FBI has been tracking them for over 4 years. Which means they aren't giving up on pursuing old cases that are wide spread. Indeed sending a message to the criminal gangs worldwide: Use the info and we're going to come after you!


Counterfeit Gang of 9 Hitting Walmart for $1M+
Baltimore Man Sentenced to 5+ Years as Part of Nationwide Scam to Pass Counterfeit Checks Worth Over $1 Million
Robert Sean Harrington, 42, of Baltimore, MD, was sentenced to five years and four months in prison, three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $204,066.

Harrington was one of nine men charged in a Superseding Indictment as part of a coordinated scheme that operated for over two years, between June 2016 and July 2018, with the purpose of committing identity theft in order to defraud various banks and Walmart, Inc., by presenting and cashing over $1,000,000 worth of counterfeit checks at Walmart stores throughout the United States.

All nine defendants in this case pleaded guilty to similar charges; many were previously sentenced and received the following sentences from Judge Leeson: Ahmad Becoate, 34, of Philadelphia, PA, was sentenced to 75 months in prison; Jeffrey Roach, 35, of Baltimore, MD, was sentenced to 94 months in prison; Jethro Richardson, 42, of Greensboro, NC, was sentenced to 70 months in prison; Nathaniel Jones, 41, of High Point, NC, was sentenced to 24 months in prison; Leander Rowell, 44, also of Greensboro, NC, was sentenced to 87 months in prison; and Brian Cherry, 45, of Charlotte, NC, was sentenced to 70 months in prison. All defendants were also ordered to pay substantial amounts of restitution.

"This was a sophisticated scheme involving many defendants that took excellent investigative work to unravel," said Acting U.S. Attorney Williams. justice.gov

Four men get 2 Yrs 6 months + 2 Yrs each - Buying $2.3M worth of cigarettes from Sam's Club stores in Atlanta using stolen credit cards
Mamadou Sow, Demarcus Myree, Boubacar Tivalo, and Jacob James, have been sentenced for access device fraud and aggravated identity theft related to purchases of massive quantities of cigarettes from Sam's Club retail locations in metro Atlanta.

Mamadou Sow, Demarcus Myree, and Boubacar Tivalo obtained Sam's Club memberships and membership cards in their names and aliases. From September 2018 through November 30, 2018, the defendants used dozens of stolen credit cards, issued by various financial institutions, to make unauthorized purchases of cigarettes at Sam's Club retail locations throughout metro Atlanta. In combination with some cash transactions, these three defendants purchased over $1.7 million worth of cigarettes during the scheme. Myree was also charged with possession of a stolen firearm.

From September 2018 to December 2018, Jacob James, who was charged in a separate indictment, purchased over $635,000 worth of cigarettes from Sam's Club stores using stolen credit cards.

Mamadou Sow, a/k/a Moussa Sow, 30, of Guinea, was sentenced to two years, six months in prison, to be followed by two consecutive years imprisonment for aggravated identity theft. He was also sentenced to serve three years of supervised release and ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $749,772.31.

Demarcus Myree, a/k/a Yuri Markosov, 27, of Atlanta, Georgia, was sentenced to two years, six months in prison for access device fraud and possession of a stolen firearm, to be followed by two consecutive years imprisonment for aggravated identity theft. He was also sentenced to serve two years of supervised release and ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $339,545.42.

Boubacar Tivalo, a/k/a Tivado Boubacar, 46, of Guinea, was sentenced to two years, six months in prison for access device fraud, to be followed by two consecutive years imprisonment for aggravated identity theft. He was also sentenced to serve three years of supervised release and ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $664,305.52.

Jacob James, a/k/a Mark Johnson and Joe Johnson, 31, of Atlanta, Georgia, was sentenced to two years in prison for access device fraud, to be followed by two consecutive years imprisonment for aggravated identity theft. He was also sentenced to serve three years of supervised release and ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $635,242.75. justice.gov

Former Cell Service Associates and Co-Conspirator Facing Federal Indictment for Aggravated Identity Theft, Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud, and Wire Fraud
Allegedly Fraudulently Stole over $500,000 Worth of Cell Phones using the Personal Information of at least 17 Victims

Baltimore, Maryland - A federal grand jury has returned an indictment charging four individuals for conspiracy to commit wire fraud, wire fraud, and aggravated identity theft. The indictment was returned on April 29, 2021 and unsealed on May 13, 2021 upon the arrest of the final defendant. The four defendants are:

Reginald McElrath, age 40, of Cockeysville, Maryland;
Chantelle Harris, age 33, of Hyattsville, Maryland;
Robert Patterson age 21, of Odenton, Maryland and;
Danisha Thomas age 37, of Bladensburg, Maryland.


From July 2019 to January 2020, McElrath, Harris, Patterson, and Thomas allegedly used the identifying information of at least 17 individuals to obtain new cell phones. McElrath, Harris, and Patterson worked in Maryland for a vendor contracted by a multinational retail corporation to handle all contractual wireless phone transactions in their stores. The indictment alleges that McElrath, Harris, and Patterson used their positions to apply for new cell phone accounts with various carriers and to apply for upgraded cell phones on existing cell phone accounts in the victims' names using the PII of the victims without their knowledge or permission. McElrath, Harris, and Patterson allegedly charged purchases of new cell phones to fraudulent cell phone service accounts they opened in the victims' names and none of the costs were borne by members of the conspiracy.

The indictment also alleges that co-conspirators, including Thomas, would receive the fraudulently obtained cell phones directly from McElrath, Harris, Patterson and others from inside the retail store.

In sum, the defendants allegedly used the stolen PII of 17 individual victims to fraudulently obtain at least $537,000 worth of cell phones.

They face a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison for wire fraud and a mandatory minimum of two years in prison, consecutive to any other sentenced imposed, for aggravated identity theft. justice.gov

California man arraigned for his role in $490,000 phone trade-in scheme
David Shemtov has been arraigned after being charged with eight counts of wire fraud for his role in a scheme to fraudulently inflate the reimbursement value of more than 1,400 electronic devices that he submitted for trade-in. "Shemtov allegedly found a way to exploit this process to recover many times the value of the actual devices he traded in."

From approximately October 2019 through January 2020, Shemtov allegedly participated in a scheme to submit more than 1,400 fraudulent electronic device trade-in requests online. On Internet trade-in request forms, the trade-in requests purported to have newer, higher-valued devices, typically an iPhone XS Max, to trade in. In reality, Shemtov never intended to trade in the higher-valued devices identified in the trade-in requests. Instead, substantially less valuable devices-typically iPhone 6s and 7s-were sent in.

The device trade-in process was handled by a third-party provider (the victim company) that oversaw the mailing and receipt of the devices, and the reimbursement payments, typically in the form of Apple gift cards. The victim company paid substantially more than the true value for the devices sent in as part of the scheme. For instance, more than 900 of the trade-in requests claimed to have iPhone XS Max with 64 gigabyte capacity, for a value of $545, but the devices mailed in were various versions of iPhone 6's, with a trade-in value of $30. 900 x $545 = $490,500 vs 900 x $30 = $27,000

After the victim company detected the scheme, from about March 2020 through December 2020, Shemtov submitted more than 1,000 additional trade-in requests using more than 100 fictious names. The victim company flagged these requests and did not complete the trades. justice.gov

CC Fraud Ring of 4 Hit Retail Chains for Over $450,000 in Southeast & Get Fed Prison Time
Members Of Identity Theft Ring Operating In Three States Are Sentenced To Prison
CHARLOTTE, N.C - Four members of an identity theft ring operating in at least three states have been sentenced to prison.

Dayton Louis Kolczak, 29, and Heather Westerfield, 37, both of Charlotte, to 71 months and 57 months in prison, respectively, and ordered each to serve three years under court supervision. Both Kolczak and Westerfield previously pleaded guilty to bank and wire fraud conspiracy and aggravated identity theft charges. Two other co-defendants, Kenneth D. Bennett-Rosario, 45, of Charlotte, and Jessica Bailey Sowell, 28, also of Charlotte, previously pleaded guilty to aggravated identity theft. Bennett-Rosario was sentenced to 39 months in prison, and Sowell was ordered to serve 24 months for their role in the scheme.

Stealing mail, info over the internet, real estate listings and other public records they created counterfeit NC & SC drivers licenses in victims names with their pictures and obtained credit cards.

According to court records, the co-conspirators used the counterfeit identification cards and stolen identities to obtain over $450,000 in fraudulent credit card accounts at retail store chains, such Lowe's, Belk Department Stores, Kohl's, and Target, to purchase or rent luxury vehicles, pay for rooms at various hotel chains, and to rent storage units, among other things. According to court records, in this manner, the co-conspirators used the stolen identities of at least 40 individuals. Over the course of the investigation, law enforcement seized printers, laptop computers, an embossing machine, a laminator, and other devices used to manufacture the fraudulent identification cards. justice.gov

CC Fraud Duo - 1 Gets 5 Yrs & The Other Pleads Guilty
Jacksonville Woman Pleads Guilty To Aggravated Identity Theft And Fraud Charges
Jacksonville, Florida - Zipporan Carmel Peters (32, Jacksonville) has pleaded guilty to aggravated identity theft and conspiracy to commit bank fraud. Peters faces up to 30 years in federal prison on the conspiracy to commit bank fraud charge, a 2-year mandatory minimum term of imprisonment on the aggravated identity theft charge, and payment of restitution to the victims she and her co-defendant, Charles Cornelius Smith, defrauded. A sentencing date has not yet been set.

Smith obtained the PPI, including the name, date of birth, and Social Security number of a victim. Smith provided Peters with a counterfeit South Carolina driver licenses with Peters' photo on it.

Using the victim's identity, Peters made various fraudulent transactions involving the withdrawal of large amounts of cash and the purchase of multiple $500 gift cards, utilizing the victim's account. Smith and Peters also visited multiple cellphone stores in Clay and Duval Counties and used the victim's identity to obtain several thousand dollars' worth of cellphones and accompanying merchandise.

On May 27, 2021, sentenced Charles Cornelius Smith (35, Jacksonville) to five years in federal prison for aggravated identity theft and conspiracy to commit bank fraud. The court also ordered Smith to pay restitution to the victims he and Peters defrauded. justice.gov

Interesting Point: Both Counterfeiters Were Busted While Still on Federal Supervised Release - Just got out of Federal Prison
Wonder if they were part of the early release program.

East Stroudsburg, PA., Man Gets 18 Months' For Passing Counterfeit Currency at Multiple Walmart Supercenters
Battle engaged in this conduct at a time when he was still serving a prior federal sentence for a handgun offense and was required to reside in a halfway house in Brooklyn, New York. justice.gov

Tampa Man Gets 51 Months For Manufacturing Counterfeit Federal Reserve Notes While On Federal Supervised Release
Darius Jondi Edwards (42, Tampa) pleaded guilty on January 25, 2021. After his release from prison in October 2019, and while still on federal supervised release for those prior counterfeiting charges, the Pinellas Park Police Department arrested Edwards for possession of counterfeit currency and forging/making counterfeit bank bills. During the course of arresting Edwards at a hotel, law enforcement found him to be in possession of counterfeit currency, partially completed counterfeit currency, and computer media used to manufacture counterfeit Federal Reserve notes. justice.gov
 



Portland, OR: Felony Lane Gang Member Sentenced in Bank Fraud Scheme
A Fort Lauderdale, Florida man was sentenced to federal prison today for his role in a bank fraud and identity theft scheme targeting female victims in the Portland Metropolitan Area. Damian Fletcher, 27, was sentenced to three years in federal prison and three years' supervised release. According to court documents, Fletcher is a member of the Felony Lane Gang, an interstate criminal organization based in Florida that travels to locations throughout the U.S. to commit vehicle break-in and fraud sprees. The organization targets female victims who leave their purses, wallets, and valuables in parked cars. After victims exit their vehicles-often to drop off children, run errands, or visit a gym-Felony Lane Gang members break into the vehicle to steal targeted items. After the theft, conspirators quickly deploy associates to conduct fraudulent bank or merchant transactions using stolen identification, checks, and credit or debit cards.

In the fall of 2019, Fletcher and five co-conspirators traveled to Portland to target local victims. Once Fletcher and his partners stole items from a vehicle, they checked to see if one of several female co-conspirators resembled the victim. If one of their female co-conspirators could impersonate the victim, they would attempt to cash fraudulent checks written in the impersonated victim's name. The conspirators would cash checks at various local banks.

Investigators identified 32 vehicle thefts and 22 instances of bank fraud committed during Fletcher's most recent known Oregon crime spree. In total, this spree resulted in a financial loss of more than $98,000. Fletcher was arrested on March 9, 2020 in Florida.

On June 6, 2020, a federal grand jury in Portland returned a 14-count superseding indictment charging Fletcher and five co-defendants with conspiring to commit bank fraud, bank fraud, and aggravated identity theft. On January 7, 2021, Fletcher pleaded guilty to conspiring to commit bank fraud and aggravated identity theft. During sentencing, U.S. District Court Judge Michael W. Mosman ordered Fletcher to pay $98,733 in restitution. Co-defendants Delvin Mills, 29, of Lauderdale Lakes, Florida; Megan Spurlock, 27, a Washington State resident; and Linda Marie Lupo, 52, of Deerfield, Florida; have all pleaded guilty and are awaiting sentencing. Co-defendants Justin Curry, 28 of Fort Lauderdale, and Treveon Donte Jordan, 23, of Lauderdale Lakes, are on pre-trial release pending a four-day jury trial scheduled to being on June 15, 2021. justice.gov

Chicago, IL: Women Steal Display Racks Full of Purses From Old Orchard Center Nordstrom
Police in suburban Skokie are searching for suspects after a group of women entered a Nordstrom location at Old Orchard Center and grabbed several display racks containing high-end handbags, scarves and socks valued at more than $10,000 in total. According to police, one of the women also threatened a loss prevention agent at the store with a bolt cutter before fleeing the scene. At approximately 11:12 a.m. Tuesday, authorities were called to the store following a retail theft and assault, according to a press release. Four women had entered the store and proceeded to grab the display racks, carrying them out of the store. nbcchicago.com

Roseville, CA: 3 People Accused Of Stealing Over $4,000 In Alcohol From Roseville-Area Stores

Calgary, AB, CN: $60K worth of lumber stolen from truck as price of wood soars in Canada



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Shootings & Deaths

Virginia Beach, VA: 7-Eleven customer who shot two robbers in Va. Beach, killing one, won't be charged
A 7-Eleven customer who shot two robbery suspects - killing one of them - in Virginia Beach will not be facing any charges. The double shooting happened at store on Newtown Road on July 25 - and ended an armed robberies spree that involved three suspects and several convenience stores across Southside Hampton Roads. Virginia Beach police said two suspects entered the Newtown Road store and tried to rob the clerks at gunpoint. A customer inside the store, who was legally carrying a gun, shot both suspects. One of the suspects, 18-year-old Michael Moore, died at the scene and the other was transported to a local hospital. An officer found a third suspect near the 7-Eleven and took him into custody, police said. A spokesperson for Virginia Beach Commonwealth's Attorney Colin Stolle confirmed to 10 On Your Side the customer will not be charged. Another customer who was also in the store that day, Barrie Engel, started a Facebook fundraiser for the fellow customer whom she has described to as a "hero." wrbl.com

Philadelphia, PA: Police ID Dunkin' store manager killed during robbery;
suspect sought
Philadelphia police are searching for the suspect who gunned down a Dunkin' store manager in North Philadelphia. The incident happened Saturday around 5:30 a.m. on the 500 block of W. Lehigh Avenue. Police say the store manager, Christine Lugo, 41, was opening the shop when she was approached by an armed man and forced into the business. Once inside, the suspect demanded she hand over money from the store office. After taking the money, the suspect shot Lugo in the head. She was pronounced dead at the scene. 6abc.com

Norfolk, VA: Man charged with murder in shopping center shooting
A Virginia man has been charged with second-degree murder after he and another man were shot in a shopping center in Norfolk. Police said in a news release that 42-year-old Fareed Nelson-Luckett has been charged in the shooting. Police were called Friday afternoon about a shooting in a shopping center near Norfolk State University. Officers found Nelson-Luckett and 37-year-old Calvin Durham II suffering from gunshot wounds. Both men were taken to Sentara Norfolk General Hospital, where Durham later died. Police said Nelson-Luckett was still being treated at the hospital for injuries not considered life-threatening. He will be taken to the Norfolk City Jail when he's released from the hospital. heraldcourier.com

Chicago, IL: 14-year-old girl dies 3 days after being shot on Southwest Side
Savanah Quintaro was pronounced dead Saturday, three days after being shot outside of a convenience store in the 4800 block of South Wood Street on Wednesday afternoon. wgntv.com

Katy, TX: Employee shoots at suspects during smash-and-grab at Katy Mills jewelry store
Shots were fired inside Katy Mills Mall Friday evening when police say a jewelry store employee saw two suspects break into a display case. According to police, the two masked men walked into the jewelry store in the mall, used a nail gun to smash one of the display cases and then took jewelry. An employee pulled out a gun and fired several shots at the suspects, police said. It's unknown if either of the suspects was hit, but police said they were able to get away in a white SUV. Fortunately, there were no reports of injuries in the mall. khou.com

Wichita, KS: Woman convicted in connection with Menard's robbery, shooting of LP sentenced to more than 3 years
A woman convicted in a 2018 shooting in northwest Wichita will spend more than three years in prison. A Sedgwick County District Court judge on Wednesday, June 2, sentenced Mia Hidalgo to 40 months. Wichita police arrested Hidalgo in 2018 for her involvement in a robbery at Menards in northwest Wichita that ended with a loss prevention officer being shot and injured. She was 17 at the time. Hidalgo confessed to attempted robbery in the case. kwch.com


Warren, MI: Police searching for woman involved in fatal shooting at 7-Eleven
 



Robberies, Incidents & Thefts

Man Attacks Security Guard & Two Female Employees/Owners
Charges upgraded to hate crime against Baltimore man accused of 'rampage' of Asian-American owned liquor stores
Authorities have brought hate crime charges against a Northeast Baltimore man accused of going on a rampage last May at three liquor stores owned by Asian-American families in the city.

Darryl Doles, 49, is accused of attacking one store's security guard with a piece of lumber, shouting at another store owner "F--- the Chinese," then bashing two Korean-American women in the head with a cinder block.

A Baltimore grand jury indicted him on charges of attempted murder in addition to the hate crimes.

According to the indictment, surveillance cameras captured Doles pushing his way inside Wonder Land Liquors on Pennsylvania Avenue, wrestling with the 67-year-old woman inside and falling to the ground. He allegedly grabbed her by the hair and hit her three times in her head with the cinder block.

Then he bashed the woman's 66-year-old sister in her head when she tried to help, according to the indictment. baltimoresun.com

Serial Fraudster Gets Six Yrs+ for SNAP Fraud Schemes With Losses of $1M+
Baltimore, Maryland - Robert Lee Snowden Jr., age 45, of Owings Mills, Maryland, gets 78 months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, for conspiracy to commit wire fraud and for aggravated identity theft, in connection with a series of fraud schemes perpetrated between 2013 and 2020. Additionally, ordered Snowden to pay restitution of $1,021,583.72.

From 2013 to July 16, 2020, Snowden conspired to defraud the Maryland Department of Human Services (DHS) and the Federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program ("SNAP"), formerly known as the "Food Stamp Program," by using victims' stolen identification information to obtain SNAP benefits. Snowden sold the SNAP benefits for cash at approximately 50% of the value of the benefits on the SNAP card. justice.gov

Lengthy & On-Going Investigation Results In Four Houston Area Men Charged In Mid-State ATM Thefts
21 ATM Thefts or Attempts in Middle TN During Past Year Resulting in More Than $732,000 Loss

NASHVILLE - Four Houston, Texas men are facing federal charges after a lengthy investigation by the FBI into a series of Automated Teller Machine (ATM) thefts in middle Tennessee and elsewhere,

Elijah Diaz, 19; Troy Alan Parker, 18; Willie Charles White, 21; and Abraham Woods, 32, were arrested on the morning of April 26, at a hotel in Holladay, Tennessee, and charged with conspiracy and bank larceny, following the theft from an ATM machine in Mount Juliet, Tennessee, hours earlier.

For over a year the FBI Violent Crimes Task Force in Nashville has been investigating ATM thefts. Typically, the method of these thefts involve crews of individuals who steal a heavy duty capacity pickup truck, obtain large J-hooks and an industrial chain and then scout a free-standing ATM to target. These crews then use the stolen truck and approach the ATM in the early morning hours, wearing hoodies and masks. The shell of the ATM is then pried open and the J-hooks are attached to the safe and to the truck. The truck is then used to pull open the safe door, allowing access to the cash inside. After travelling to a pre-determined location, the crews offload the cash into other vehicles and abandon the stolen truck to avoid detection and apprehension.

The FBI followed the gang on numerous separate occasions from Tenn. to Texas at various ATM locations and arrested them on April 26th after one heist in Mount Juliet, Tenn. They all face up to 10 years in prison. justice.gov

Fort Smith, AR: Arkansas man who robbed taco shop with water pistol asks for clemency again after 40 years in prison
In February 1981, Rolf Kaestel, armed with a toy water pistol, robbed an Arkansas taco shop of $264. He's been incarcerated for 40 years for the crime. Kaestel was 29 when he robbed the shop. He turned 70 on June 2. He was sentenced on June 5, 1981 to life in prison and a $15,000 fine for aggravated robbery. The man who managed the taco shop, and handed Kaestel the money during the robbery, has recommended his release. Dennis Schluterman appealed to then-Governor Mike Beebe in a YouTube video on Oct. 29, 2014. Kaestel is awaiting a decision from Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson on another clemency application. The governor has a little more than 90 days to make a decision. In 2015, Hutchinson denied Kaestel clemency. Kaestel is part of the Arkansas Department of Corrections' Interstate Compact and is now housed in Utah. Kaestel appears to never have violated prison rules during his four decades as an inmate, according to the website. He's earned three associate's degrees and several college credits while in prison. wreg.com

Rowlett, TX: Couple accused of shoplifting told police they needed clothes
for their kids
A Garland charity helped police meet that need. "Nobody likes being the bad guy," says Sgt. Vedran Nosic of the Rowlett Police Department. "Most of us got into this job to help people." Now there's a system available to police departments to help people in their communities get some of what they need to move forward with their lives. For seven years, Trusted World of Garland has been developing what founder Michael Garrett calls an "Amazon for nonprofits." Trusted World has a warehouse-full of new clothing, footwear, toiletries and food, all pre-sorted. A school counselor who finds a child or a family in need of clothing can place an order via computer with specific sizes and needs.

Each case is treated as an individual "customer" and gets a tracking number. The order is delivered to the school counsellor to give to the customer, be it child or family, in a matter of hours. With the help of a computer program written by students and the University of Texas at Dallas, Garrett has found a way to put the system in police cars. Sgt. Nosic described a ground-breaking incident he recently experienced. He was called to a nearby mall where adults were accused of shoplifting. Their car license plate traced the couple to Rowlett. After talking to them, he discovered they were after clothes for their children, and instead of arresting them Nosic gave them a warning and forwarded their needs to Trusted World. "Within a day or two, we had delivered six bags of clothing," Nosic said. "They said they'd never had a positive experience with the police." wfaa.com

Serving time: Excessive sentencing "haunts" former judge
"CBS This Morning" revisits a story first covered more than two years ago. It surrounds two separate cases of what could be considered "excessive sentencing" - involving offenders Patrick Flaherty and Bobby Bostic - both locked up since the 1990's on convictions of armed robbery. Erin Moriarty of "48 Hours" travels to Missouri for an unlikely release. Flaherty held-up 4 C-Stores with an unloaded BB Gun, he thought he would get 10 years. The Judge had another idea, sentencing Flaherty to 10 years for each store, and the sentenced to run Consecutively.  cbsnews.com

Shoplifting of cigarettes sparks 2-state chase that ends in Augusta

Thief 'Test Rides' $6,374 Cannondale Bicycle, Never Returns To Southlake Store


Orlando, FL: Man Found Guilty Of Armed Robbery Of Cellphone Store

Cape Girardeau, MO: Judge sentences Cape Girardeau man to 214 months for robbery and firearm charges

 



Counterfeit

eBay extends authentication service to luxury handbags
Buyers and sellers of select high-end handbags on eBay can rest easy they are not dealing in counterfeit merchandise. The e-commerce giant is now authenticating new and pre-owned handbags sold for more than $500 from 16 prominent luxury brands, including Saint Laurent, Gucci, Celine, and Balenciaga. eBay has already been vetting and verifying all new and pre-owned collectible sneakers for over $100 in the U.S., routing luxury watches to a third-party authenticator for assessment, and letting buyers and sellers of sports memorabilia use the managed Prova Group SmarTag solution to verify items.

All eligible handbags bought and sold in the U.S. will be vetted and verified by eBay's team of professionally trained authenticators, using detailed physical inspection and advanced technical equipment in a special facility. New and pre-owned handbags that have been vetted will be marked on the site with a badge of Authenticity Guarantee. chainstoreage.com


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Jewelry - Katy, TX - Robbery/Shooting
Jewelry - Staten Island, NY - Burglary
Liquor - Maui, HI - Burglary
Motorcycles- Beaumont, TX - Burglary
Nordstrom - Chicago, IL - Robbery
Restaurant - Golden Triangle, MS - Burglary
Restaurant - Dallas, TX - Burglary
Restaurant - Pinellas Park, FL - Robbery
Restaurant - Philadelphia, PA - Armed Robbery / Manager killed (Dunkin)
Tobacco - Augusta, GA - Robbery
Vape - Sugar Hill, GA - Burglary
7-Eleven - Griffith, IN - Armed Robbery

 

Daily Totals:
• 14 robberies
• 13 burglaries
• 2 shootings
• 1 killed



Click to enlarge map

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Katelyn Hall, LPQ LPC promoted to Regional Loss Prevention Manager
for Amazon


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Featured Job Spotlights

 




Sr. Lead, Organized Retail Crime
Baltimore, MD - posted May 25
The Sr Lead, Organized Retail Crime (ORC) is responsible for the direction and support of Organized Retail Crime (ORC) investigations, strategies and training to ensure the effective execution of asset protection and retail initiatives...




Field Loss Prevention Manager
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Staples is focused on our customer and our community. As a Field Loss Prevention Manager for Staples, you will manage and coordinate Loss Prevention and Safety Programs intended to protect Staples assets and ensure a safe work environment within Staples Retail locations...




LP Auditor & Fraud Detection Analyst
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Phoenix, Dallas, Denver and Houston - posted April 22
Victra is the leading exclusive, premium retailer for Verizon with a mission of connecting technology to life in the most trusting and profitable way. As the Regional Asset Protection Manager, you will be very logical, efficient, orderly, and organized in always safeguarding our company assets from losses due to theft or fraud...




Area Loss Prevention Manager
Pittsburgh, PA - posted May 11
Our Area Loss Prevention Managers ensure safe and secure stores through the objective identification of loss and risk opportunities. Our Area Loss Prevention Managers plan and prioritize to provide an optimal customer experience to their portfolio of stores. They thrive on supporting and building high performance teams that execute with excellence...




Area Loss Prevention Manager
Sacramento, CA - posted April 20
Our Area Loss Prevention Managers ensure safe and secure stores through the objective identification of loss and risk opportunities. Our Area Loss Prevention Managers plan and prioritize to provide an optimal customer experience to their portfolio of stores. They thrive on supporting and building high performance teams that execute with excellence...





 


Corporate Security Manager
Calabasas, CA - posted April 6
The Corporate Security Manager will, among other things, (a) be responsible for ensuring a safe and secure environment for our employees, vendors, and visitors, (b) develop, manage, execute and continuously improve corporate security processes and protocols, and (c) lead a team of security specialists at our corporate offices...
 



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Having strong relationships with your business partners is critical if you're to be successful. Regardless of how good you are at your job, without strong relationships your value decreases significantly and in some cases almost disappears. Developing those relationships can be extremely difficult because at times they're driven by factors outside of your control, by personal likes and dislikes, by personal agendas, by your own successes and failures, and by your own approach to each individual. Relationships are the absolute key to success and they should drive most of what you do each and every day. Viewing your business partners as "internal customers" might help in this daily task that so many take lightly. By applying the same customer service principles one would use with an external customer to your internal customer, or your business partner, you might find surprising results.

Just a Thought,
Gus

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