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Facial Recognition's Retail Expansion
NYC Mayor Urges More Facial Recognition
Tech Amid Rampant Crime
Using Facial Recognition to Fight NYC Crime &
Violence
NYC Mayor Adams says masks are protecting against police, not COVID
New York City Mayor Eric Adams said last week that some store customers who wear
masks are more likely trying not to get caught shoplifting than stopping
the spread of COVID.
Mayor
Eric Adams: "Let's be clear, some of these characters going into
stores that are wearing their mask, they're not doing it because they're afraid
of the pandemic, they're doing it because they're afraid of the police. We need
to stop allowing them to exploit the safety of the pandemic by wearing masks,
committing crimes. You saw what happened over the weekend when an innocent
store owner was shot and killed. The person had a hazmat suit on and a mask. He
wasn't trying to protect himself from the pandemic.
[NYC Mayor Eric Adams], who pushed one of the strictest and longest mask
mandates in the country, is now pushing the use of facial recognition
technology to reduce rampant crime across the Big Apple.
With the help of facial recognition software, he says he
hopes to crack down on not only shoplifting but repeat offenders who may be
linked to more serious and violent crimes.
Mayor Adams' push for more facial recognition technology comes after a man
wearing a hazmat suit fatally shot a deli worker last week.
Read more about the "hazmat killer" case below.
fism.tv
'Hazmat killer' arrested in fatal shooting of UES deli worker
A
man was arrested Thursday in connection with the fatal shooting of an Upper
East Side deli worker last week, Mayor Eric Adams and police said - after a
manhunt for the serial robber in a hazmat suit alleged to be responsible for the
killing.
The 39-year-old man, who has three prior arrests, was picked up by
members of the NYPD's Regional Fugitive Task Force in the Bronx, police said at
a briefing Thursday afternoon. Charges are pending.
Fernando Mateo, of the United Bodegas of America, said part of the problem
these days is customers who are masked and hooded.
"We're talking about all those people that hoodie up, that cover their entire
face so that the police department cannot identify them when they commit a
crime," Mateo said.
In recent days, NYPD brass and Mayor Eric Adams echoed that sentiment, saying
customers should drop their masks before entering businesses.
audacy.com
Read more about how retailers are using facial
recognition tech in the section below
The U.S. Crime Surge
The Retail Impact
Stores Using Facial Recognition to Track
Repeat Shoplifters
Shoplifting Climbs as In-Store Shopping Returns
Retailers lock up goods, use facial
recognition software to track repeat offenders
Retailers
say
theft is rising as more people shop in stores,
cutting into profits that were already under pressure.
Target Corp. said in November that it expected the problem,
known in the industry as "shrink," to reduce gross margins for the recently
completed fiscal year by more than $600 million. TJX Cos.'s and Macy's Inc.
also called out higher shrink rates in recent calls with analysts.
"Theft is growing at a faster rate than sales,"
said Dean Rosenblum, a senior U.S. retail analyst at Bernstein Research. Mr.
Rosenblum said theft is becoming a big enough problem that it's starting to
affect margins, which is why retailers are talking about it more frequently.
In an interview, Mr. Gennette said the shift in
shoppers returning to stores after a surge in online buying during the
pandemic is partly responsible for the uptick. "More theft happens in
stores," as opposed to warehouses that fulfill online orders, he said.
He added that a jump in organized retail crime in
certain areas of the country is also a factor. "These are crime
levels we haven't seen before," Mr. Gennette said.
"Seven years ago, internal theft was the largest category of loss by retailers,"
said David Johnston, the NRF's vice president of asset
protection and retail operations, referring to theft by employees. "Now,
it's external theft."
Retailers are combating the problem by adding security guards and cameras to
stores,
locking up goods and making use of facial
recognition software to help identify repeat offenders.
Mr. Gennette said Macy's is using radio frequency identification tags to
better track inventory, adding more security personnel to stores and securing
high-end brands with locked cables and sensors.
New legislation signed into law by President Biden last year, called the
Inform Consumers Act, will make it harder for criminals to resell stolen goods
online. The Combating Organized Retail Crime Act of 2023 currently making
its way through Congress seeks to pool expertise and provide more tools to
prosecute criminals and recover stolen goods.
wsj.com
Oregon's ORC Legislation in the News
Retailers & law enforcement urge Oregon lawmakers to address ORC
A pair of bills before the Legislature would
put millions toward fighting organized theft and allow prosecutors to seek
stiffer penalties.
In Oregon, Safeway/Albertson's
complains of losing more than $15 million in Multnomah County stores over
the last eight years. Police agencies
talk of coordinated efforts to steal large amounts of merchandise, then sell
it on the web or via flea markets. Store employees say they can feel unsafe as
thieves carry out brazen thefts.
In response, Oregon legislators are considering a package of bills that
proponents say would help the state better respond to the problem of organized
theft - and more easily ratchet up penalties for people who participate.
The proposals are included in amendments to Senate Bill 318 and Senate Bill
340, which received a hearing in the Senate Judiciary Committee on
Wednesday. Both bills are being touted by members of a
sprawling task force that took up the problem of organized theft over the
last six months. That group included the Oregon Department of Justice, district
attorneys, law enforcement agencies, and large retailers.
Under the group's proposed version of SB 318, the state would set aside $5
million to help pay for the cost of cracking down on theft in cities and
counties. The bill would also reserve additional money to pay for new
positions within the Oregon Department of Justice to help cities and counties
analyze and fight organized theft.
Changes proposed to Senate Bill 340, and favored by the state's
district attorneys, would alter state law to ensure prosecutors can seek stiffer
penalties for people convicted of organized retail theft. Under Oregon law,
the crime involves working in concert with another person or people to steal
more than $5,000 worth of merchandise within a 90-day period.
A rise in shoplifting has been a hot topic among retailers of late, with
national business groups attempting to put hard numbers behind the problem, and
stories of brazen thefts where employees or onlookers have occasionally been
injured or killed.
And the bill package comes as shoplifting is an increasingly large subject of
conversation in Oregon - and particularly Portland.
opb.org
Mall of America Reveals 'Layers' of Security
Amid Shooting Surge
From K9 officers checking bags and sniffing for guns
to a basement command center
Mall of America offers glimpse at security measures following shootings
The Mall of America, like many large corporations and companies, doesn't
often like to talk about its layers of security, figuring the fewer people
who know, the better the security works. But in light of recent shootings,
including a murder just before Christmas, their outlook is changing.
"It's
time that we share our story," said Will Bernhjelm, the
Mall of America's Vice President of Security. "It's a unique approach
to security, and it's not being done this broadly anywhere else."
On Friday, Bernhjelm led reporters on a tour highlighting what he explained were
the layers of security, which he likened to individual slices of Swiss cheese.
No layer is foolproof, he says, "but with more layers built in, there's less
chance all those holes line up at once."
Outside the mall, security officers on bikes patrol the lots and ramps
full-time.The Bloomington Police, who have a station in the mall,
installed license plate readers on every entrance to mall parking.
There are six K-9 officers working the mall by checking bags or packages left
alone and sniffing garbage cans. All of them are trained to detect a long
list of explosives.
They plan to add more K-9s that are trained to smell firearms since it's
not deemed viable to add metal detectors at the mall's many doors.
The mall has security cameras, some you can clearly see and some that are
hidden, and all are watched in a basement command center.
There is a training room in the basement which has never before been
shown to the media before. Security officers practiced Krav Maga, a martial art
developed by the Israeli Defense Forces. New officers must complete four
weeks of training in de-escalation, crisis intervention and medical response,
which Bernhjelm says is far beyond the industry standard of 40 hours.
Some officers work undercover, trained on "behavior detection" techniques,
trying to spot suspicious activity. They also employ a full-time intelligence
analyst, who monitors social media. fox9.com
Lowe's Turns to Robots to Crack Down on Crime
& Boost Security
Security robots - nicknamed 'snitchBOTS' - are at Philly Lowe's stores
Customers
at Lowe's stores across Philadelphia have encountered an unexpected sight in the
parking lots over the last month - a 5-foot-tall, egg-shaped security robot
that makes a cosmic whirring sound as it glides across the pavement. Some have
already nicknamed them "snitchBOT."
Four Lowe's stores in Philly are testing the security robots, including
locations in South Philly, Northeast Philly, Port Richmond, and West
Philadelphia.
The K5 autonomous outdoor security robots, which are manufactured by
Knightscope, a security tech company based in the Silicon Valley, are part of a
pilot project to "heighten the security and safety of our locations,"
said Larry Costello, Lowe's senior manager of corporate
communications.
Others are being piloted in Washington state, North Carolina, California, and
D.C. Costello said locations were selected "based on varying criteria and
scenarios" but did not offer further details.
The K5 robot uses 16 microphones and a range of sensors, including lidar and
sonar, to detect anomalies and report them in real-time to Lowe's central
monitoring team. The robot also has four wide-angle cameras which take 360
degrees of high-definition footage.
Stacy Stephens, executive vice president and chief client officer at Knightscope,
said the K5 is not meant to replace human security guards but to provide them
with better situational awareness and give companies evidence for criminal
prosecutions.
"We're looking for known threats, people to whom you've issued criminal
trespass warnings, terminated employees, or domestic abusers," Stephens said.
inquirer.com
The Great Debate Over Retail Theft Deterrents
Preventing theft or driving consumers away?
With Retail Theft Rampant, Will New Deterrents at Walmart, CVS and More Drive
Consumers Away?
Retail shrink, or company inventory lost to causes other than sales, has risen
to an unprecedented level, causing some of the trade's biggest corporations to
implement extra in-store anti-theft devices at the risk of losing customers.
Although retail management has identified several types of shrinkage - such as
internal/employee theft, operational loss, administrative errors and return
fraud - it is organized retail crime (ORC) that
accounts for a large part of the problem. This grander, more
coordinated type of shoplifting has industry leaders taking tougher security
stances and paying plenty for them.
Explaining these "more sophisticated and highly dangerous" crimes to a Senate
hearing in Nov. 2021, CVS Health crime and corporate investigations exec Brendan
(Ben) Dugan told the committee judiciary that his company has seen ORC
increase 300% since the start of the pandemic. Dugan indicated those thefts
had resulted in annual losses of more than $200 million for his company.
Retailers Lock Up Product In Response to Increased
Theft
More locked product cases and additional security gear have been
implemented by Walmart, CVS, Walgreens and others in an attempt to
thwart criminals from stealing large quantities of goods and reselling them for
profit.
NRF's vice president of asset protection and retail
operations, David Johnston, admitted that the rise in lock-and-key
measures is "probably not great for the customer experience," but tightened
security actions aren't ideal for companies, either.
If the issue grows into a widespread departure of bothered and scared shoppers
from stores, retailers will have to come up with more consumer-friendly
strategies to battle this level of theft. On a broader level, one might
expect the industry to confront ORC through proposed legislation and
retail-crime associations.
nasdaq.com
Fallout Continues After Walmart's Portland
Exodus
Shoplifting unlikely the driving force in Portland Walmart closures, experts say
Retail industry analysts say that rising concerns over theft may have
contributed to Walmart's decision last month to shutter its Portland stores. But
it's likely not the driving factor.
Theft and other crime, the Walmart watchers said, is surely a concern for the
chain. But the impact is rarely enough to close an otherwise successful store
without warning, and especially without appeals to local officials for
assistance.
"The decision to close down a store is typically linked to sales," said
Neil Saunders, managing director of the retail division at GlobalData, a market
analysis firm, "which often has nothing to do with thefts or shoplifting."
Walmart CEO Doug McMillon said in a December interview with CNBC's Squawk Box
that shoplifting could lead to store closures and price increases, a
statement Portland critics have seized on in the wake of closures.
oregonlive.com
RELATED: Walmart's Exodus From Portland Draws
Attention to Retail Crime
It's about time: 'Retail Theft Missions' net crooks, cars, and guns
CVS store pulls laundry detergent off shelves amid theft surge
Lowe's Safety Training Makes Headlines After
Viral TikTok
Viral TikTok of Lowe's employee screaming for help prompts debate about safety
training at the home-improvement chain
Some current and former workers praise the
company's practices, while others say they find the training insufficient.
A
viral TikTok video showing a now-former Lowe's employee screaming for
help while struggling to retrieve a heavy box from a high shelf has
sparked a debate among Lowe's employees: Does the home-improvement chain
prioritize safety and provide adequate training?
While some questioned the retailer's security practices, many praised them. Some
employees told Insider that Lowe's safety trainings are
among the best they've seen in the retail industry.
"Without a doubt they put safety at the very forefront of everything they do,"
a former Lowe's department manager at a store in Tacoma, Washington, said. "I've
been in management for over 20 years now and can hands down say that Lowe's
has the best core safety values and procedures in place."
The company introduced in 2020 the Lowe's Safety Review, a daily safety
inspection store managers use to identify hazards and track corrections,
according to its
2021 corporate responsibility report.
Lowe's partially credits that for a decline in
significant injuries for three straight years. In 2021, for every 100
employees, there were 5.15 significant injuries, per OSHA data - down from 5.36
in 2020 and 6.37 in 2019.
For comparison, at Lowe's biggest competitor,
Home Depot, the significant injury rates were 4.25, 4.03, and 4.89 in 2021,
2020, and 2019, respectively.
businessinsider.com
Retail's 'Great Resignation' Picking Up Steam
Again
Why are more retail workers quitting their jobs?
The number of people
quitting their jobs throughout the U.S. seems to be dropping off, outside of
a few specific industries. One of those is retail, where The Great
Resignation appears to be picking back up after a dip.
The
rate of retail workers quitting their jobs has been ticking up
month-over-month recently and hit 4.1 percent in January, a higher rate of
attrition than the pre-pandemic high, according to Business Insider. The last
time retail's quitting rate veered into that territory was in April of last
year. The rate of quitting outside of retail, conversely, has dropped and is
approaching 2.3 percent, the 2019 level.
The other business segment where quitting remains high is
restaurants/hospitality, although that sector has seen a steady rate of
employees quitting compared to retail's decline followed by a rise. Retail's
quitting problem is also unique given that some retailers have, over the last
few years, undertaken well-publicized initiatives to boost pay.
The main factors behind
The Great Resignation, which began in 2021, have been a matter of debate
since the phenomenon was first observed. Some have chalked it up to a spate of
early retirements induced by the novel coronavirus pandemic. Some argued that
low-wage workers were moving into new, higher-paying positions because of a
strong labor market rather than dropping out of the workforce entirely. Others
still ascribed it to burnout and anxiety, or from reevaluating their
priorities in light of the stress caused by the pandemic.
retailwire.com
Retailer Impacted by Silicon Valley Bank
Collapse
Camp toy store pleads for help after Silicon Valley Bank collapse
The New York-based privately owned toy store took to social media for
help just hours after regulators shut down Silicon Valley Bank on Friday.
"Our bank got shut down by regulators, so we're asking that you RUN, don't
walk to our BANKRUN sale," the company posted on its social media accounts
with a picture of a girl looking solemn and text reading, "When your bank
collapses." The retail company asked customers to purchase items at a 40
percent discount on its online sale.
In an email to customers sent Friday,
CNN reported, co-founder Ben Kaufman said: "Unfortunately, we had most of
our company's cash assets at a bank which just collapsed. I'm sure you've
heard the news."
nytimes.com
Barista union to ask Starbucks shareholders to back labor review
Starbucks Workers United, which represents thousands
of U.S. baristas, plans to urge the company's investors to support a shareholder
proposal for an independent review of the coffee chain's labor practices
REI Workers In Cleveland Vote To Join Retail, Wholesale & Department Store Union
Workers endured an exceptionally harsh union-busting
campaign that included an attempt by REI to delay the election entirely, as well
as conducting intimidating one on one meetings with workers and managers, and
spreading inaccurate and incomplete information
Tuesday Morning wants to close over 250 stores
Five retailers closing down additional stores in March
Ulta to open 25 to 30 stores in 2023
Gopuff makes 100+ more layoffs in latest round of cuts
Last week's #1 article --
More ORC Stings & Jail Time Coming?
Update: Retail theft stings may lead to more jail time with new Oregon Senate
bill
Senate Bill 340 would target criminals
involved in organized retail theft
A series of retail theft stings are now underway by Salem law enforcement
as they try to stop a growing problem that's causing
some businesses to close their doors.
In a hearing on
Senate Bill 340 in the Judiciary Committee Wednesday, law enforcement
officers, grocery store representatives and retail lobbyists testified in
support of increasing jail time for criminals
involved in organized retail theft.
Retail theft rings involve multiple people who engage in frequent theft, and
who often resell the stolen property online.
Washington County District Attorney Kevin Barton said creating tougher
penalties for these rings is only one piece of the solution.
koin.com
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What is Retail Crime Intelligence?
Retail teams can no longer rely on traditional case and incident management
systems to combat increasing crime and harm in stores. Small groups of people -
or networks - actually cause most of the loss in stores. Networks are difficult
to defeat, but when they are defeated it is wildly impactful for retail
communities.
That's why Auror is
pioneering Retail Crime Intelligence, the connected and intuitive way to not
only report crime - but to fully close cases and prevent further events. If you
want to learn more about Retail Crime Intelligence and how it's being used to
address ORC (organized retail crime) around the world, here are some resources
to start with.
What is Retail Crime Intelligence?
Retail Crime Intelligence is a software platform that connects people and
organizations with timely intel to proactively reduce the impacts of crime in
retail stores. It's used by Asset Protection / Loss Prevention departments
alongside their store and security teams, law enforcement and trusted partners
to identify and prevent the people driving their theft-related loss and harm.
Read more
Retail
Crime Intelligence FAQs
Auror helps increase the visibility of crime in stores through the Auror feed,
notifications, and dashboard intel. Reported incidents from the stores are
immediately available to other team members and nearby stores via the Auror feed
and notifications, so they can use that intel to safely prevent further crime.
Additionally, intelligence on the people impacting your stores - and when and
what they're likely to target - will help you target and prepare more
effectively.
Read more
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Business Community Pushes for AI Regulation
Chamber of Commerce Says Congress Should Really Do Something About AI
A new U.S. Chamber of Commerce report said
if citizens are to benefit from AI like ChatGPT or DALL-E, "people must trust
it."
Those pushing for AI regulation have a strange new ally. The U.S. Chamber of
Commerce, the largest pro-business lobbying group in the country, released a
report on generative artificial intelligence Thursday, calling on lawmakers to
create some sort of regulation around the ballooning technology.
At
the same time, the chamber's report offers very few examples or specifics on
where this regulation should go, save for a "risk-based approach" to
regulating AI. While this could be the kind of real push lawmakers need to
act on forming meaningful regulation, at this point it seems poised to offer
more limp regulation that won't actually help some of the people most-impacted
by AI development.
The chamber argued that without regulation, we could see harm to both the
economy and people.
What are people's main complaints with AI?
There's a question of how major tech companies plan to use websites and
users' own data for the purpose of training AI.
OpenAI and its founder Sam Altman have promised not to use companies' data
when they purchase the new ChatGPT API, but regular users can still expect that
any of their information put into the AI prompt will be used for training
purposes. Without any kind of
digital privacy law, we should only expect users' data will be used to train
AI, for good or ill.
The number of tech companies big and small adopting AI has
risen exponentially since the start of the year. Microsoft's
Bing chatbot has exceeded 100 million daily active users in just over a
month since it's been active. And with more companies employing ChatGPT onto
their platforms, it's easy to see how the chamber can say AI will be employed in
every facet of daily life in a mere decade.
So all-in-all, AI regulation may be needed sooner rather than later.
Normally, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce has a relatively strong anti-regulatory
stance.
gizmodo.com
Ransomware Business Costs to Increase 13-Fold
Dismantling the Ransomware Business Model
Every day, coordinated crime groups are developing more advanced skills to
attack organizations' networks. The number of ransomware attacks has increased
significantly, and it's getting easier for sophisticated cybergangs to access
companies' data. As the ransomware business model becomes more refined and organisations are under rising threat, the stakes are high. In fact,
ransomware attacks could cost businesses as much as $265 billion per year
globally by 2031, compared with only $20 billion in 2021-a
13X increase in 10 years.
Despite
this, the concern many companies are expressing isn't quite enough to balance
the risk they're exposed to. This trend of cybersecurity apathy means that
only 15% of IT leaders are currently prepared to face a ransomware attack.
Business leaders must understand that all organizations are potential targets
for cybercriminals. The question is not if a business will face an attack but
when.
As long as businesses pay, ransomware remains a profitable industry and
this vicious cycle will only continue. Companies must react and focus on
developing defence strategies to stop cybercriminals in their tracks.
Understanding the Ransomware Business Model
Ransomware has become a very lucrative industry, offering full-time jobs to
thousands of individuals around the world. People are hired to conduct
reconnaissance and ensure attacks are perfectly coordinated to leave businesses
no other choice than spend millions to protect their own and their
customers' data, financials and reputations.
Changing the Apathetic Mindset
Organizations must implement preventative measures to defend themselves against
these increasingly prolific attacks. While many believe cybercriminals only
target large-scale or well-known brands, this is a misconception. All
businesses, regardless of their size, are vulnerable.
securityboulevard.com
Is a Reinvention of Security Automation
Coming?
AI-Powered 'BlackMamba' Keylogging Attack Evades Modern EDR Security
Researchers warn that polymorphic malware
created with ChatGPT and other LLMs will force a reinvention of security
automation.
A proof-of-concept, artificial intelligence (AI)-driven cyberattack that
changes its code on the fly can slip past the latest automated
security-detection technology, demonstrating the potential for creating
undetectable malware.
Researchers from HYAS Labs demonstrated the proof-of-concept attack, which they
call BlackMamba, which exploits a large language model (LLM) -
the technology on which ChatGPT is based - to synthesize a polymorphic keylogger functionality on the fly. The attack is "truly polymorphic" in that
every time BlackMamba executes, it resynthesizes its keylogging capability,
the researchers wrote.
The
BlackMamba attack, outlined in a blog post, demonstrates how AI can allow
the malware to dynamically modify benign code at runtime without any
command-and-control (C2) infrastructure, allowing it to
slip past current automated security systems that are attuned to look
out for this type of behavior to detect attacks.
"Traditional security solutions like
endpoint detection and response (EDR) leverage multi-layer, data
intelligence systems to combat some of today's most sophisticated threats,
and most automated controls claim to prevent novel or irregular behavior
patterns," the HYAS Labs researchers wrote. "But in practice, this is very
rarely the case."
darkreading.com
Facebook Business Accounts Targeted
ChatGPT Browser Extension Hijacks Facebook Business Accounts
Between March 3 and March 9, at least 2,000
people a day downloaded the malicious "Quick access to ChatGPT" Chrome extension
from the Google Play app store.
A threat actor may have compromised thousands of Facebook accounts -
including business accounts - via a sophisticated fake Chrome ChatGPT
browser extension which, until earlier this week, was available on Google's
official Chrome Store.
According to an analysis this week from Guardio, the malicious "Quick access
to Chat GPT" extension promised users a quick way to interact with the
hugely popular AI chatbot. In reality, it also surreptitiously harvested
a wide range of information from the browser, stole cookies of all authorized
active sessions, and installed a backdoor that gave the malware author
super-admin permissions to the user's Facebook account.
The Quick access to ChatGPT browser extension is just one example of the many
ways in which threat actors have been trying to leverage the enormous
public interest in ChatGPT to distribute malware and infiltrate systems.
One example is an adversary who set up a fake ChatGPT landing page, where users
tricked into "signing
up" only ended up downloading a Trojan called Fobo. Others have reported a
sharp increase in ChatGPT themed phishing emails in recent months, and the
growing use of
fake ChatGPT apps to spread Windows and Android malware.
darkreading.com
Microsoft to boost protection against malicious OneNote documents
Legal Industry Faces Double Jeopardy as a Favorite Cybercrime Target |
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The Story Behind a $10M Employee Amazon Scheme
Sentencing for those involved was scheduled for last
week
How Two Former Employees Scammed Amazon Out Of $10 Million
Two former Amazon employees pleaded guilty
to conspiracy to commit wire fraud against the company.
As
an operations manager at an Amazon facility in Smyrna, Georgia, Kayricka
Wortham, 31,
was responsible for supervising workers, managing productivity, and making
sure all the day's operations ran smoothly. She could oversee how orders got
sorted and packed into the familiar smirking box, and coordinate with delivery
service partners, or DSPs-third-party delivery companies that Amazon contracts
to drive for it. Everything in the warehouse could pass through her hands.
Wortham's position-a lucrative one, at that, which can pay up to $100,000 a
year-carries a lot of authority. But the United States Attorney's Office
alleges that Wortham abused that authority, and that in fact she, in combination
with two other defendants, conspired to
defraud Amazon of over $10 million-charges to which she and one of her
co-defendants pleaded guilty in November.
"Defendant Wortham used her position as an Operations Manager at Amazon to
steal more than $9 million from the company," reads the charging document
filed in the Northern District Court of Georgia. "Working with co-conspirators,
Defendant Wortham created fake vendors and submitted more than $10 million in
fictitious invoices for those vendors, causing Amazon to transfer
approximately $9.4 million to bank accounts controlled by her and her
co-conspirators."
Wortham's co-conspirators, according to prosecutors, were her partner Brittany
Hudson, 37, who owned one of the DSPs that contracted with the warehouse, and
Demetrius Hines, 35, a loss prevention lead at multiple
warehouses around Georgia, including Wortham's. Hines was
responsible for "preventing loss and protecting people, products, and
information at Amazon," the document reads.
Beginning around January of 2022, Wortham would apply to become a vendor,
approve her own or her co-conspirators' applications from within-which she
would have had the authority to do in her position, the document states-and
then approve invoices paid to her vendor bank account from within, the
prosecutors allege. "These invoices falsely represented that the fake vendors
had provided goods and services to Amazon, when in fact they had not," the
document reads.
vice.com
China's Uncertain Post-COVID Economy Hits
Online Sales
JD.com's Sales Rise 7% As Covid Saps Chinese Online Shopping
China's second-largest online retailer said Thursday revenue rose 7% from
October to December, down from 23% growth a year earlier. It and larger
rival Alibaba Group Holding Ltd. have grappled with weak consumption sentiment
since the world's No. 2 economy buckled under the weight of China's rigid Covid
control measures. JD's US-traded shares slid as much as 9.6% to $42.45 in New
York, the lowest since November.
China's exports and imports continued to decline in the first two months of
2023, clouding the outlook for an economy gradually recovering from the
Covid years and waves of infection. Economists expect consumption to be the main
driver of GDP this year, but the data showed a slowdown in urbanization and a
rise in inequality in 2022, two trends which could slow private spending.
Alibaba had reported a mere 2.1% rise in quarterly revenue in 2022's final three
months, underscoring the economic uncertainty that's prevailed even after
China abolished Covid restrictions in December.
finance.yahoo.com
Etsy warns sellers of delay in processing payments due to Silicon Valley Bank
collapse
Walmart is Closing The Gap With Amazon Prime |
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College girl racked up $547K in fraudulent purchases while working at Burlington
Mall
A
local college student is under arrest for racking up over $500,000 worth of
fraudulent charges in a credit card scheme she had been running since February,
authorities allege. Ariel Foster, 19, of Boston, was charged with larceny over
$1,200. Burlington Police say during the month of February, Foster was using an
elaborate credit card scheme at her place of work in the Burlington Mall, Lovisa,
to fund lavish purchases. Lovisa is a jewelry store. On three separate dates,
Foster would scan items from the store and increase their price, according to
officials. The cost of the expensive item was then allegedly refunded to her
credit card, where investigators found 8 transactions for a total company loss
of $547,187. Police say between February 2 and February 22, Foster bought a
$35,000 Tesla, made nearly $6,000 worth of transactions to Delta Airlines,
bought almost $5,000 worth of Louis Vuitton purchases and spent more than
$20,000 for a hotel in Maui, Hawaii using this credit card scheme. After serving
a subpoena to Foster's financial institutions, authorities found these expensive
refund transactions stemming from Lovisa America LLC. A search warrant was
executed on her dorm room at Lasell University on Wednesday where she was taken
into custody without incident.
yahoo.com
Los Angeles County, CA: Baldwin Park police bust department store theft ring
Five
adults were arrested last week as part of an organized retail theft operation in
Los Angeles County. Baldwin Park police served search warrants at a residence at
an undisclosed location on Thursday and Friday which led to the recovery of
several items of stolen merchandise and a firearm. Police say the arrests were
made in connection with a string of department store thefts that have taken
place in Baldwin Park and throughout Los Angeles County. Although not specifying
which recent thefts the group was linked to, police said all five adults are
likely to face charges for grand theft and conspiracy to commit a crime. The
Baldwin Park Police Department's Detective Bureau was tasked with investigating
the recent thefts. Photos posted to the Police Department's social media pages
showed a large police presence at a residence, and a vehicle full of what is
believed to be stolen merchandise. The investigation is ongoing.
ktla.com
North Coventry Township, PA: North Coventry Township PD attempting to ID theft
suspects
The North Coventry Township Police Department is attempting to identify the two
attached females. On 03/09/2023 the females selected miscellaneous
over-the-counter medication and beauty products sold by Giant Food Store and
left without offering payment. The total amount of merchandise taken was
$4050.82.
chester.crimewatchpa.com
Montoursville, PA: Shopper allegedly steals more than $3,000 from store
A 30-year-old woman with a history of stealing was allegedly caught taking more
than $3,000 in groceries over a three-month period. A crime investigator for
Weis Markets immediately recognized Kelly Laniece Bront Fry on surveillance
tapes at the store on North Loyalsock Avenue, police say. She had previously
stolen "a massive amount" of merchandise from a different Weis store, the
employee told Montoursville Officer Bill Hagemeyer. Surveillance tapes
reportedly showed Fry came into the North Loyalsock Avenue store 13 times
between Oct. 28 to Jan. 24 and walked out each time with hundreds of dollars
worth of stolen goods totaling $3,231.
northcentralpa.com
Memphis,
TN: Four Thieves make off with thousands in merchandise in East Memphis vape
shop Burglary
Surveillance video shows the exact moments four burglars backed a car into a
Memphis vape shop and stole thousands of dollar's worth of merchandise. "We're
out here working hard and stuff trying to feed our family. It's not right what
they are doing," Manny Ali, the manager of Hello Hookah and Vape shop on Getwell
Rd. said. Ali was in for a shock Saturday morning when he came to work to find
his business broken into. "It happens a lot in Memphis, I know a lot of stores
it's happened to," he said. The latest business targeted by burglars has only
been open for a few months.
fox13memphis.com
Green Oak Township, MI: 2 arrested in Brighton Costco cognac theft, believed to
be linked to other alcohol robberies
Two suspects believed to be linked to a string of liquor thefts in southeastern
Michigan were arrested Thursday in Livingston County after attempting to steal
high-end brandy from a retailer. Green Oak Township Police officers encountered
three people at the Costco store, at about 1:45 p.m. Thursday. When police
arrived, three people fled on foot with merchandise before getting into a
vehicle and attempting to leave the scene before being stopped by officers,
police said in a press release. Police found nine bottles of Remy Martin
brandy worth $671.91. Officers determined that one of the suspects assaulted
a Costco employee when confronted about the theft, the release said. Officers
determined that two of the suspects were involved in a similar incident at
the store on Monday, in which $701.88 worth of alcohol was stolen. They are
also suspected of thefts at several other similar stores in southeastern
Michigan, police said.
thebharatexpressnews.com
Tacoma, WA: Tacoma police looking for alleged Victoria's Secret retail thief
Tacoma police are looking for an alleged Victoria's Secret retail thief, said
the Tacoma Police Department on Friday. On Feb. 28, a woman is believed to have
stolen $2,000 worth of merchandise from Victoria's Secret in the Tacoma Mall.
People can receive up to $1,000 for information leading to the arrest of this
woman.
kiro7.com
Memphis, TN: Suspect steals from GameStop near Austin Peay Highway
Memphis Police Department is investigating a shoplifting incident that took
place at a Game Stop near Austin Peay Highway on Tuesday afternoon. On March 7
roughly around 4:00 p.m., MPD officers responded to a call regarding a theft at
a Game Stop on 3854 Austin Peay Highway. Officers were informed that a male
suspect grabbed two PlayStation gaming systems and ran out of the front door.
The suspect was accompanied by a juvenile, according to police.
actionnews5.com
Hampstead, NH: $250,000 worth of vehicles stolen from dealership in Hampstead
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Shootings & Deaths
Fridley, MN: Man identified as victim in shooting outside Cub Foods
The man fatally shot Thursday morning outside a Cub Foods in Fridley has been
identified by the Hennepin County medical examiner. Devon Michael Adams, 27, of
Hugo, was found shot in the chest in the store's parking lot at Interstate 694
and University Avenue shortly after 11 a.m. The Anoka County sheriff's office
said bystanders, law enforcement and paramedics provided first aid before Adams
was taken by ambulance to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead. The
sheriff's office, medical examiner's office and the Fridley Police Department
are investigating the shooting.
yahoo.com
Philadelphia, PA: Police investigate the fatal shooting of a man outside a West
Philadelphia convenience store
A man was shot multiple times and killed on a West Philadelphia street, outside
of a convenience store and police are searching for a suspect. Officials say the
shooting happened Saturday night, just after 8:30 p.m., near the intersection of
North 52nd and Haverford Avenue, in West Philadelphia.
fox29.com
Montgomery County, MD: Woman shot outside Westfield Wheaton Mall
woman was taken to the hospital after being shot outside Westfield Wheaton Mall
Saturday morning, according to Montgomery County Police. Police say the woman
was shot after the suspect attempted to car jack her. Fourth District officers
from Montgomery County Police Department responded to a call of a shooting in
the 111600 block of Veirs Mill Road in Wheaton, Maryland, around 11 a.m. When
officers arrived, they found a woman who had been shot, officials said. She was
taken to an area hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. The identity of
the victim is unknown at this time; this includes her age and name. Police say
the shooting happened outside of the Target and Costco parking lot at Wheaton
mall. A man was taken into custody, police said. His identity was not
immediately released.
wusa9.com
Redondo Beach, CA: 1 hospitalized after shooting at South Bay Galleria
Police
are investigating after shots rang out at a Redondo Beach mall as crowds of
shoppers enjoyed their Saturday afternoon. One person was hospitalized after the
shooting. The victim was identified only as a male by Redondo Beach police.
Officers responded to reports of shots fired inside the South Bay Galleria mall
on the 1800 block of Hawthorne Boulevard around 2:19 p.m. When police arrived,
they found the victim had been shot in the foot. The shooting happened near the
east side entrance doors, authorities said. The suspect is described as a young
male who fled the scene on foot before entering a dark-colored vehicle and
driving away, police said. It's unclear what initially prompted the shooting,
officers said.
ktla.com
Memphis, TN: Shooting reported at Orange Mound McDonald's
Police say a shooting was reported early Monday at a McDonald's near Airways and
Lamar. The restaurant was roped off with crime scene tape and surrounded by
police vehicles Monday morning. A forensics vehicle was on the scene. The fire
department said they were called around 3 a.m.
wreg.com
Broken Arrow, OK: Man injured after shooting self in leg inside fitting room
Broken Arrow Police say one man is hurt after accidentally shooting himself in
the leg. Officers say they were called to a store near New Orleans and Elm
around 1 p.m. on Saturday. They say a man had been changing in a dressing room
when his gun went off and hit him. Police say he went to a hospital and should
be OK.
newson6.com
Austin, TX: Six juveniles arrested in series of aggravated robberies; 22
victims, and in several of the incidents shots were fired
Robberies,
Incidents & Thefts
Spring, TX: Going Cashless: Gringo's Tex-Mex restaurant burglarized at multiple
locations
A
popular Houston-area Tex-Mex restaurant has been targeted by thieves, again.
Gringo's Mexican Kitchen said its I-45 location in Spring was burglarized early
Saturday morning. Surveillance video appears to show a man busting through an
office window, climbing through the glass, sawing through the safe and taking
the cash. The video is almost identical to a recent break-in at their Cypress
location. "We firmly believe these are the same people based upon our camera
footage. They were in and out of our restaurant in 7 minutes," said Mckeon. She
said they are planning to go cashless at the restaurant starting Monday. A
change they were also forced to make at the Cypress location.
khou.com
Rancho Santa Margarita, CA: Suspects sought in break-ins at 7 restaurants
Authorities in Orange County are searching for two suspects who broke into seven
restaurants in the Rancho Santa Margarita area. The incidents took place
Saturday between 4 a.m. and 4:30 a.m., according to the Orange County Sheriff's
Department. The suspects used power tools to access locked safes and stole safes
that were not properly anchored to the ground, the department said. It's not
known exactly what the suspected burglars got away with.
abc7.com
Hyattsville, MD: Security Guard charged with impersonating a Police Officer at
Mall of of Prince George's
A
Maryland security guard was arrested and charged with impersonating a police
officer, according to Hyattsville Police. Robert Muschette Jr., 53, was stopped
by officers in the parking lot at the Mall of Prince George's on Thursday night
around 11:25 p.m. According to investigators, he had blue and red emergency
lights on in the dashboard of his dark green Ford Explorer. Police say Muschette
Jr. first identified himself as "DC police" but later said he was a "special
police officer" for a security agency. Inside his SUV, officers recovered a
loaded handgun that was visible in the passenger's seat. Muschette also had a
police-style badge, ballistic vest, ammunition, handcuffs, and apparel including
hats that said "police" on them.
wusa9.com
Frederick, MD: Person Robs Ulta, Pepper Sprays Store
Sheriff's deputies are searching for the person who robbed an Ulta Beauty in
Frederick, Maryland, and then sprayed pepper spray inside the store on Sunday.
Authorities found several people at the store in the Frederick Crossing shopping
center in the 7300 block of Guilford Drive overcome by a chemical irritant.
Medics were called to the scene, as were hazmat units from the Frederick County
Division of Fire and Rescue Services. The Sheriff's office is investigating.
More information about potential injuries or why the person responsible would
pepper spray the area after the robbery was not immediately provided.
nbcwashington.com
Oakland, CA: 4 arrested in connection with spree of Oakland robberies,
carjackings
Harrisonburg, VA: HPD Investigates Armed Robbery At Target Parking Lot
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• Auto
- Hampstead, NH - Burglary
• C-Store
- Chesterfield, VA - Armed Robbery
• C-Store
- Grand Forks, SD - Armed Robbery
• C-Store
- Brentwood, NH - Armed Robbery
• C-Store
- Red Bluff, CA - Robbery
• Clothing
- Tacoma, WA - Robbery
• GameStop
- Seattle, WA - Armed Robbery
• GameStop
- Memphis, TN - Robbery
• Gas
Station - Gig Harbor, WA - Armed Robbery
• Gas
Station - Glendale, AZ - Robbery
• Grocery
- Greensboro, NC - Armed Robbery
• Grocery
- North Coventry Township, PA - Robbery
• Grocery
- Boston, MA - Armed Robbery
• Grocery
- Stillwater, OK - Robbery
• Hotel
- Burlington, VT - Robbery
• Jewelry - Concord, NC - Robbery
• Jewelry - Warsaw, IN - Burglary
• Liquor
- Green Oak Township, MI - Robbery
• Liquor
- Cleveland, OH - Armed Robbery
• Macy's
- Santa Clarita County, CA - Robbery
• Restaurant
- Graham, NC - Robbery
• Restaurant
- Spring, TX - Burglary
• Restaurant
- Orange County, CA - Burglary / 1 of 7
• Restaurant
- Orange County, CA - Burglary
• Restaurant
- Orange County, CA - Burglary
• Restaurant
- Orange County, CA - Burglary
• Restaurant
- Orange County, CA - Burglary
• Restaurant
- Orange County, CA - Burglary
• Restaurant
- Orange County, CA - Burglary
• Shoes
- Suffolk County, NY - Robbery
• Ulta
- Frederick, MD - Armed Robbery
• Vape
- Memphis, TN - Burglary |
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Daily Totals:
• 21 robberies
• 11 burglaries
• 0 shootings
• 0 killed |
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Click to enlarge map
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None to report.
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Submit Your New Hires/Promotions or New Position
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Featured Job Spotlights
An
Industry Obligation - Staffing 'Best in Class' Teams
Every one has a role to play in building an
industry.
Filled your job? Any good candidates left over?
Help your colleagues - your industry - Build
'Best in Class' teams.
Refer the Best & Build the Best
Quality - Diversity - Industry Obligation
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Retail Partnership Manager
Denver, CO - posted
February 22
The Retail Partnerships Manager will play a key role within Auror's
North American team; taking ownership of some of our key customers. The role is
a great fit for someone who seeks variety and is great at relationship building.
You will be seen as a thought leader and trusted advisor for both our customers
and the industry alike...
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Regional Distribution Asset Protection Specialist
Landover, MD -
posted February 24
This role is responsible for leading asset protection
initiatives and investigating matters pertaining to inventory shrink, policy
violations, unauthorized access, fraud, and theft within assigned distribution
center(s) - Landover MD, Severn MD, Bluefield VA, Norfolk VA, Lumberton NC...
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Corporate Risk Manager
Charlotte or Raleigh, NC - posted
February 14
Summary of Role and Responsibilities: Proactive approach
to preventing losses/injuries whether they are to our employees, third parties
or customers valuables. They include cash in transit, auto losses or injuries;
Report all incidents, claims and losses which may expose the company to
financial losses whether they are covered by insurance or not...
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Director of Asset Protection & Safety
Mount Horeb, WI - posted
January 27
The Director of Asset Protection and Safety is responsible
for developing strategies, supporting initiatives, and creating a vibrant
culture relating to all aspects of asset protection and safety throughout the
organization. As the expert strategist and leader of asset protection and
safety, this role applies broad knowledge and seasoned experience to address
risks...
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Loss Prevention Analyst
Ashburn, VA - posted
February 21
This position pays $67,725 - $75,000 per year:
The LP Analyst protects the company's assets from internal
theft by using investigative resources (i.e., exception-based reporting (EBR),
micros reporting, inventory reporting, CCTV, etc.). The primary responsibility
of the LP Analyst is to identify potential loss prevention issues such as
employee theft in SSP America's operation across North America...
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Manager of Asset Protection (Corporate and DC)
North Kingstown, RI - posted
February 17
The Manager of Asset Protection - Corporate and
Distribution Center ("DC") role at Ocean State Job Lot ("OSJL" and "Company")
will have overall responsibility for the ongoing safety and security of all
operations throughout the corporate office and supply chain...
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Business Continuity Planning Manager
Jacksonville, FL - posted
January 26
Responsible for developing, implementing and managing the
company's Business Continuity (BCP) and Life Safety Programs to include but not
limited to emergency response, disaster recovery and site preparedness plans for
critical business functions across the organization. In addition, the position
will develop and lead testing requirements to ensure these programs are
effective and can be executed in the event of a disaster/crisis...
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Region Asset Protection Manager-St Augustine and Daytona Beach Market
Jacksonville, FL - posted
January 18
Responsible for managing asset protection programs
designed to minimize shrink, associate and customer liability accidents, bad
check and cash loss, and safety incidents for stores within assigned region.
This position will develop the framework for the groups' response to critical
incidents, investigative needs, safety concerns and regulatory agency visits...
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Region Asset Protection Manager: Fresco y Mas Banner
Hialeah, FL - posted
January 18
Responsible for managing asset protection programs
designed to minimize shrink, associate and customer liability accidents, bad
check and cash loss, and safety incidents for stores within assigned region.
This position will develop the framework for the groups' response to critical
incidents, investigative needs, safety concerns and regulatory agency visits...
|
Featured Jobs
To apply to any of today's Featured Jobs,
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If you ever think your job is in jeopardy, then you're probably right. Hearing
the footsteps isn't a pleasant thing, but not hearing them is a fatal blow and
probably means you're not listening. It's always important to keep your ears to
the floorboards and read your environment as best you can every day, because as
we've seen over the last few years, no one is immune in this economy and what
you've done for them today drives where you'll be tomorrow. That "Doing More
With Less" philosophy isn't just an expression for the masses, it's for every
executive in every job and what more can you be doing?
Just a Thought, Gus
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