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 12/21/20

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NRF Big Show (Virtual)
Jan. 2021

IAI EDUCATE
Jan. 22, 2021

RLPSA Conference
March 15-18, 2021

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April 25-28, 2021

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June 6-8, 2021

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June 14-16

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Jason Gamber, CFI promoted to Director, Loss Prevention for Tractor Supply Company

Jason has been with Tractor Supply Company for nearly 16 years. Before his promotion to Director, Loss Prevention, he served as Regional LP Manager since 2005. Prior to joining Tractor Supply Company, he spent two years with KB Toys as Group LP Manager. Earlier in his career, he held loss prevention roles with Michaels Stores and Homeplace of America. Congratulations, Jason!



Christopher Dyess, LPC named Manager, Field & Loss Prevention Analytics for Tailored Brands

Before joining Tailored Brands as Manager, Field & Loss Prevention Analytics, Christopher spent two years with Claire's as Territory Loss Prevention Manager. Prior to that, he spent more than two years with Stage Stores as District Asset Protection Manager. Earlier in his career, he held roles with Charming Charlie and Aeropostale. Congratulations, Christopher!


See All the Executives 'Moving Up' Here   |   Submit Your New Corporate Hires/Promotions or New Position
 
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Vector Security, Inc. with NHL Pittsburgh Penguins Presents
'Defender of the Year' Award to Local VA Hospital Nurse

Award honors frontline worker during COVID-19 pandemic

Vector Security®, Inc., a leading provider of intelligent mobile security and automation solutions to homes and businesses, in partnership with the National Hockey League's (NHL) Pittsburgh Penguins®, presented the 2020 Vector Security Defender of the Year award to Melissa Nadeau of Monroeville, PA. An ICU nurse for 18 years, Nadeau was selected jointly by Vector Security and the Pittsburgh Penguins from a number of entries submitted during the contest period.

Vector Security developed the Defender of the Year award and designed a custom, one-of-a-kind goalie mask as a centerpiece of the recognition. Several Penguins players autographed the mask, including Sidney Crosby, Kris Letang and Tristan Jarry.

"Vector Security is proud to honor Melissa with our first-ever Defender of the Year award for the work that she has done throughout her career and especially the last eight or nine months fighting COVID-19 at the VA hospital," said Pam Petrow, President and CEO of Vector Security. "It takes a special person to step up in times like these and help our veterans who are most in need." Read More Here

Watch the virtual award ceremony featuring Vector Security CEO Pam Petrow, Pittsburgh Penguins Radio Broadcast Host and PensTV Host Josh Getzoff, and Allegheny County (PA) Executive Rich Fitzgerald.
 

LPRC Anti-Sweep Offender Feedback Survey: Tally Smart Shelf

Tally's smart-sensing pad perceived by offenders as 'difficult to defeat' and a 'highly effective crime prevention technology'

Read more in today's Vendor Spotlight below.

 



Protests & Violence



D&D Daily Weekend Crime Analysis:

3,970 Shootings, 916 Deaths in 2nd Half of 2020

Shootings & Deaths Steady in 3rd Weekend of December
134 shootings, 28 killed in 20 Major U.S. Cities from Dec. 18-20

The D&D Daily continued to analyze violent crime in 20 major cities, including those in the DOJ's 'Operation Legend', where they've made over 5,000 arrests since its onset in July.

There were 134 shootings and 28 killings from Friday through Sunday, with an average of 44.7 shootings and 9.3 killings per day. Since the July 4th holiday weekend, there have been 3,970 shootings and 916 killings.

Top 5 Cities (Shootings) Top 5 Cities (Deaths)
1. Chicago, IL (685) 1. Chicago (103)
2. New York City (227) 2. Los Angeles, CA (43)
3. Philadelphia, PA (173) 3. Memphis, TN (41)
4. Houston, TX (134) 4. St. Louis & Philadelphia (40)
5. Los Angeles, CA (125) 5. Houston, TX (39)
See full list See full list

Click here to view the complete breakdown of violence in 20/36 major cities from July to August.

President Trump promises 'wild' protests in Washington D.C. on Jan. 6:
the day Congress is set to finalize election results

President Donald Trump promised his supporters there would be a "wild" rally in Washington, DC, on January 6, the day when Congress is scheduled to meet to formally finalize the presidential election results. "Statistically impossible to have lost the 2020 Election," Trump tweeted on Saturday. "Big protest in DC on January 6th. Be there, will be wild!" businessinsider.com

Security company that subcontracted guard in fatal shooting denied settlement
The Denver Department of Excise and Licenses announced Friday that it rejected a settlement agreement with
Pinkerton, the company that subcontracted the unlicensed security guard accused of killing a man following a protest in downtown Denver. Earlier this month, Isborn Security Services surrendered its license as part of a separate settlement. Pinkerton is fighting to keep its license. kdvr.com

Viral videos show anti-mask protest at AZ mall: 'They're endangering people'
Videos showing a group of maskless protesters decrying COVID-19 health guidelines at Phoenix's Christown Spectrum Mall went viral on Friday as Arizona, along with the rest of the country, continue to see a record number of new cases. Several videos, filmed at different stores including Target and Walmart, showed the group walking through as some waved American flags and held signs opposing masks and other guidelines.

Jenny Guzman, one of the Target shoppers who took video of the protest, told The Arizona Republic that she noticed people shouting near a group of Target security guards and drew closer to see what the commotion was about. "I turned to look and then I saw people coming in, not wearing masks, with signs and a big giant American flag chanting and yelling - demanding that people take their masks off and just saying fallacies about wearing masks," Guzman said. usatoday.com

 



COVID Update

US: Over 18.3M Cases - 325K Dead - 10.6M Recovered
Worldwide: Over 77.4M Cases - 1.7M Dead - 54.3M Recovered


Private Industry Security Guard Deaths: 247   Law Enforcement Officer Deaths: 171
*Red indicates change in total deaths

Every state's single-day record for new cases
has been since November 1, except Hawaii

(Though it's important to remember how limited testing was, especially in the spring.)


COVID Economic Relief
Congress Strikes Long-Sought Stimulus Deal to Provide $900 Billion in Aid
Congressional leaders on Sunday reached a hard-fought agreement on a $900 billion stimulus package that would send immediate aid to Americans and businesses to help them cope with the economic devastation of the pandemic and fund the distribution of vaccines.

The deal would deliver the
first significant infusion of federal dollars into the economy since April, as negotiators broke through months of partisan gridlock that had scuttled earlier talks, leaving millions of Americans and businesses without federal help as the pandemic raged. While the plan is roughly half the size of the $2.2 trillion stimulus law enacted in March, it is one of the largest relief packages in modern history. nytimes.com

  Americans will get stimulus checks as soon as next week, Mnuchin says

Leading Retailers Welcome COVID Relief Legislation
The bipartisan COVID relief deal announced today is vitally important for families and businesses whose lives and livelihoods have been upended by COVID-19. Today's agreement does not solve every problem families and businesses will face in 2021 as we look to recover and rebuild, but it is an important first step, and one that will provide hope to those struggling in this pandemic.

This holiday season brings the promise of vaccines and the hope of brighter days around the corner, but with millions still out of work and over 100,000 Americans currently hospitalized with severe coronavirus symptoms, funding for unemployment, health care, and first responders is what many families and communities desperately need right now. We urge Congress to quickly pass this relief bill and ask President Trump to sign it. rila.org

Grocery store employees among next vaccine group
CDC: Older adults, front-line essential workers to get Covid vaccine next

People ages 75 and older and front-line essential workers will be next in line to receive Covid-19 vaccines, according to recommendations from a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention advisory committee. On Sunday, the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices voted in favor of the recommendations, which will go on to the CDC for final approval.

The new proposal comes less than a week after the first Covid-19 vaccines went out to health care workers and people living in long-term care facilities across the country. That group is referred to as Phase 1A. The Food and Drug Administration has granted emergency use authorization to two Covid-19 vaccines, from Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna.

In addition to those 75 and older, the next phase, deemed Phase 1B, would include first responders, such as firefighters and police officers, as well as teachers, day care staff and others working in education. Corrections officers, U.S. postal workers, public transit workers and
those whose jobs are essential for the food supply - from farmers to grocery store employees - are also next up to receive the vaccine. Altogether, this group includes about 49 million people. nbcnews.com

1,000 Grocery Workers Give Blood Samples
University of Minn. grocery store worker antibody study to help
unlock COVID-19 clues

Grocery store workers' antibodies examined to determine virus' spread.

A University of Minnesota study of COVID-19 in grocery store workers could help solve vexing questions about the true spread of the infectious disease and guide state strategies to slow it down before the vaccine is broadly available.

Public health Prof. Craig Hedberg is recruiting 1,000 grocers from across Minnesota to mail self-collected blood samples to see if they contain antibodies in response to the coronavirus that causes COVID-19. Patterns in the positive results by worker type and geographic location will offer important clues, he said. startribune.com


Supermarkets in L.A. County see unprecedented coronavirus infection rates
Supermarkets have been hit hard by the unprecedented explosion of the coronavirus in Los Angeles County, further straining an essential service that needs to remain open despite the new stay-at-home order.

Outbreaks are increasing at an alarming rate across industries, officials say - an unavoidable consequence of so many people falling sick in the region. But those at grocery stores and other essential retailers pose a unique challenge for officials attempting to reduce coronavirus transmission, as well as for county residents trying to pare down their activities to only what is necessary.

L.A. County is investigating
ongoing coronavirus outbreaks at 490 businesses, compared with 173 a month ago, according to county data. The increase in outbreaks drives home officials' warnings that the only way to stay safe is to stay home, even as many businesses remain open.
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Barbara Hughes, a cashier at a Food 4 Less in Palmdale, said she had to put in 70 hours last week because so many of her colleagues are out with COVID-19. Twenty-one employees have recently tested positive for the virus, according to county records.

Of the
six outbreaks at Food 4 Less locations reported to the county during the pandemic, three - including the one at Hughes' store - were first logged this month, linked to the current surge, according to a Times analysis of outbreaks posted on the county's website. An outbreak is defined as three or more cases among staff in a 14-day period.

There have also been
new outbreaks reported in December at three Trader Joe's locations, two Whole Foods Market stores, three Sprouts Farmers Market branches and several smaller grocery chains, county and company records show. latimes.com

Apple is temporarily closing all California stores, a dozen more around U.S. amid COVID-19 surges
Apple is temporarily closing all 53 of its retail stores California and about a dozen outlets in other states because of COVID-19 surges. The closures come during the final days of the busy holiday shopping season.

Besides California, Apple is closing, or already has shuttered, all four of its stores in Tennessee, all three in Utah, all four in Minnesota, its two stores in Oklahoma, and outlets in Anchorage, Alaska; and Albuquerque New Mexico, the company says. usatoday.com

A View of All OSHA COVID-19 Alerts Since March 2020
All OSHA COVID-19 Publications in 2020
All OSHA COVID-19 Downloads in 2020

Despite health warnings, holiday travel has already set a record
for busiest weekend of the pandemic

Pre-Christmas air travel surpassed 1 million daily passengers nationwide for three consecutive days this weekend - breaking the record for most weekend travelers of the pandemic and outpacing Thanksgiving numbers that assumed that title and worried health experts last month. The 3.2 million passengers screened Friday, Saturday and Sunday mark the only time during the pandemic that over 1 million air travelers were seen three days in a row.

The influx in air travel undercuts health officials' guidance for Americans to stay home this holiday season. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued guidance earlier this month that discouraged travel and urged those who need to travel to acquire coronavirus tests before and after their journey. washingtonpost.com

Biden to receive the coronavirus vaccine on live television on Monday

This interactive tool tracks covid-19 travel restrictions by country

Stuarts Draft, VA: Over 20 COVID cases reported at Target distribution center

1 in 5 prisoners in the U.S. has had COVID-19, 1,700 have died
 



 



UK Faces New COVID-19 Strain


'Out of Control' New COVID Mutation Across the Pond
EU nations, Canada ban travel from UK, fearing rapidly spreading virus variant

A growing list of European Union nations and Canada barred travel from the U.K. on Sunday and others were considering similar action, in a bid to block a new strain of coronavirus sweeping across southern England from spreading to the continent.

British Health Secretary Matt Hancock has said the strain is "out of control" around London and southeastern England.

France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Belgium, Austria, Ireland and Bulgaria all announced restrictions on U.K. travel. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said early indications are that the variant is 70% more transmissible and is driving the rapid spread of infections in the capital and surrounding areas.

The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control said Monday that while preliminary analysis in the U.K. suggests the new variant is "significantly more transmissible," there is no indication that infections are more severe. Experts, however, have stressed that even if the new strain is not more lethal, it's inevitable that more cases will lead to more hospitalizations and subsequent virus-related deaths. usatoday.com

UK nixes Christmas gatherings, shuts London shops over virus
Millions of people must cancel their Christmas get-togethers and most shops have to close in London and much of southern England, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said Saturday as he imposed a new, stricter level of coronavirus restrictions on the region to curb rapidly spreading infections.

Johnson said Saturday that the capital and large areas in southern England already placed under the highest level of the U.K. government's three-tiered coronavirus alert system will move into a new Tier 4 that requires all non-essential shops, hairdressers and indoor leisure venues to close after the end of business hours Saturday.

With just days to go until Christmas, Johnson also announced that a planned easing of socializing rules that would have allowed up to three households to meet in "Christmas bubbles" from Dec. 23 to Dec. 27 will be canceled for Tier 4 areas and sharply curtailed in the rest of England.

While restaurants, pubs, bars and theaters in much of England are already closed and prepared for a bleak Christmas, all shops in Tier 4 areas that don't sell food or medicine received only hours' notice that they must shutter after Saturday until officials review the situation on Dec. 30.

The British Retail Consortium said it was "hugely regrettable news," especially coming just two weeks after a month-long lockdown in England ended and at the height of the year's peak retail period. apnews.com

British Retail Consortium responds to Tier 4 restrictions in England

UK retail sales pick up ahead of Christmas, January plunge feared

U.K. Braces for Possible Shortages of Some Foods as France Closes Border to Trade

Experts expect vaccines to protect against the UK's fast-spreading Covid strain

NY Gov. Cuomo: UK's COVID-19 mutation 'is on a plane to JFK' without testing

 



FBI: Zoom Security Exec Chinese Spy?
China is Watching - Listening & Recording

DOJ Says Zoom Security Exec Working With Chinese Gov't to Surveil Users & Suppress Video Calls
A security executive with the video-tech giant Zoom worked with the Chinese government to terminate Americans' accounts and disrupt video calls about the 1989 massacre of pro-democracy activists in Tiananmen Square, Justice Department prosecutors said Friday.

The case is a stunning blow for Zoom, one of the most popular new titans of American tech, which during the pandemic became one of the main ways people work, socialize and share ideas around the world. The California-based company is now worth more than $100 billion.

But the executive's work with the Chinese government, as alleged by FBI agents in a criminal complaint unsealed Friday in a Brooklyn federal court, highlights the often-hidden threats of censorship on a forum promoted as a platform for free speech. It also raises questions about how Zoom is protecting users' data from governments that seek to surveil and suppress people inside their borders and abroad.

Prosecutors said the China-based executive, Xinjiang Jin, worked as Zoom's primary liaison with Chinese law enforcement and intelligence services, sharing user information and terminating video calls at the Chinese government's request.

Jin monitored Zoom's video system for discussions of political and religious topics deemed unacceptable by China's ruling Communist Party, the complaint states, and he gave government officials the names, email addresses and other sensitive information of users, even those outside China.

A Zoom spokesperson said in a statement Friday that the company has cooperated with the case and launched its own internal investigation. Jin, the company said, shared "a limited amount of individual user data with Chinese authorities," as well as data on no more than 10 users based outside China. Jin was fired for violating company policies, the statement said, and other employees have been placed on administrative leave until the investigation is complete.

In an updated statement on Zoom's website, the company said it "fell short" by terminating the meetings instead of only blocking access to participants in China, to abide by Chinese law. washingtonpost.com

Editor's Note: Well - Is the 'Zoom Craze' over or do we really care about China's communist party listening in? Heck, they're in a lot of the networks already with Huawei and the Russians are now in all the networks too with the SolarWinds hack. Hey, the U.S. is an open book now. It's pretty safe to say anything coming out of either country is probably phoning home. I'm just hoping we have been doing the same thing.


4 Retailers Among List of 17 Worst Companies in America to Work For

     

We've compiled a list of the worst-rated companies on Glassdoor, focusing on those with at least 10,000 employees and 1,000 reviews. In the case of ties, we prioritized companies that workers would be least likely to recommend to a friend.

Of the 17 worst companies listed, four were retailers:

8. OfficeMax
9. Family Dollar
10. Dollar General
15. GameStop 
yahoo.com

What's ahead for the 2021 workforce?
How has COVID-19 redefined the workforce? LinkedIn's final Workforce Report of 2020 chronicles this year's labor-market trends and what they mean for the year ahead:

Walmart and Amazon launch return options as some predict holiday onslaught
Walmart has partnered with FedEx to allow online shoppers to return items from their homes, according to a company post Monday. The new free service, Carrier Pickup by FedEx, lets customers set up an appointment online for a FedEx associate to pick up packages from their doorsteps. Walmart also added features to its app to make in-store returns faster. Walmart's announcement comes days after Amazon announced an extended return policy for the holiday period and "no-box, no-label" returns at more than 500 Whole Foods Market locations. retaildive.com

Top retailers enhance last minute holiday pickup and delivery options
Walmart's offering includes paid two hour delivery for orders made by 1 pm on December 24th, plus free next-day delivery for orders made by the 21st at 2 pm. Target is offering curbside and in-store pickup until 5 pm on Christmas Eve and is offering same-day delivery via Shipt. Amazon is extending delivery options for Prime members. retailwire.com

MoneyGram, After Spending Millions on Compliance, Wants Stronger Due-Diligence Rule

Nike posts $11B quarter and plans for 30 new stores

JCPenney to close 15 more stores after exiting bankruptcy

Billionaire Ray Dalio's son dies after crashing car into Verizon store


Last week's #1 article --

Atlanta: Lenox Square Mall to add metal detectors, gun-sniffing K-9s
to security plans after shootings

One of Atlanta's busiest malls will be adding metal detectors to a growing list of safety precautions in the face of multiple shootings, or reports of shots fired inside or nearby, in the last year.

"Lenox Square is one of the most surveilled environments in Atlanta and has 18 times more security personnel by square acre than the city of Atlanta," the mall said in a statement.

Officials with Lenox Square are adding new methods to their security protocol. In addition to linking their more than 200 security cameras and adding license plate readers at vehicle entrance points, the mall said it has recently added K-9 patrols trained to detect firearms. Perhaps the most talked-about additions, however, are metal detectors designed to check for firearms.

And, finally, the mall pointed to an "Operations Intelligence Center" staffed with 120 trained specialists who are tasked with monitoring closed-circuit surveillance video in real-time. 11alive.com

 




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LPRC Anti-Sweep Offender Feedback Survey: Tally Smart Shelf

Tally's smart-sensing pad perceived by offenders as 'difficult to defeat'
and a 'highly effective crime prevention technology'

The Loss Prevention Research Council (LPRC) conducted a series of in-person survey interviews in the Gainesville, Florida Innovation Lab in order to better understand the impact of an anti-sweep technology on retail offenders: The Tally Smart Shelf. This research was conducted with several high-loss and ORC (organized retail crime) vulnerable items: Tide detergent, Similac infant formula, and Red Bull energy drinks. The LPRC collected data from 10 active shoplifting offenders. This report details the results of these surveys.

Summary of Key Findings - 'See It, Get It, Fear It'

While only 20% of offenders (2 people) were aware of the Smart Shelf before being prompted, 100% were deterred by it to some degree, with 50% reporting that they'd steal fewer items, and 50% reporting that they'd avoid theft from the device altogether (see Table 1).

The Tally Smart Shelf

The Tally Smart Shelf is a smart-sensing pad that communicates with the Tally platform to give instant alerts as product is removed from the shelves. There are three main benefits as advertised by Tally Retail Solutions:

  • The Smart Shelf is designed to act as a deterrent to offenders without restricting access to honest customers. If too much product is taken at one time, a series of customizable alerts can triggered, such as audible store pages, emails, and text messages. The Smart Shelf also takes live video of the incident for review.

  • The Smart Shelf can also help track inventory and give alerts when products are running low, out-of-stock, or when items need to be shifted forward on the shelves.

  • Since there are no additional tags or fixtures on the products themselves, the Smart Shelf does not add additional work to store employees. Once installed, the Tally software detects the presence of an item and gives automatic, real-time alerts.

For a full copy of the LPRC report, email Sean Ryan at sean.ryan@tally.solutions



 

 

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NSA Warns of Hacking Tactics That Target Cloud Resources

Alert Follows Week's Worth of Revelations About SolarWinds Breach

The
U.S. National Security Agency has issued a warning about two hacking techniques that could allow threat actors to access cloud resources by bypassing authentication mechanisms.

The warning comes after a week's worth of revelations over the SolarWinds breach that has affected government agencies as well as corporations, including Microsoft, FireEye, Intel and Nvida (see: SolarWinds Hack: Lawmakers Demand Answers).

Obtaining Access

The NSA advisory does not specify whether the nation-state hackers behind the SolarWinds breach used these same tactics, techniques and procedures to compromise various networks and gain additional privileges, but the advisory notes threat actors could use these methods to steal credentials and maintain persistent access. The NSA adds these particular tactics and methods described in the alert are not new and have been used by threat actors since 2017.

The two techniques described by NSA involve
hacking of cloud resources using either compromised authentication tokens or through compromised system administration accounts in the Microsoft Azure platform.

The agency adds, however, that
these techniques can be replicated in other cloud platforms as well. govinfosecurity.com

Hackers Cold-Calling Companies
FBI says ransomware gang is harassing victims who refuse to pay


FBI says ransomware group has been calling victims, threatening to send individuals to their homes if they don't pay the ransom

AdvertisementThe US Federal Bureau of Investigations says it is aware of incidents where the DoppelPaymer ransomware gang has resorted to cold-calling companies in order to intimidate and coerce victims into paying ransom demands.

The incidents have been happening since February 2020, the FBI said in a PIN (private industry notification) alert, a type of security advisory the Bureau sends to the US private sector on a regular basis to inform them of the latest cyber-security developments.

The FBI PIN alert, sent on December 10, confirms a ZDNet report from December 5 that detailed
similar cold-calling tactics used by four other ransomware groups: Sekhmet (now defunct), Maze (now defunct), Conti, and Ryuk.

But while our reporting tracked down phone threats made by ransomware groups to September this year, the FBI says this tactic was actually first seen with the DoppelPaymer gang months before. zdnet.com

The Halo Effect: How Hackers are Targeting Employees This Holiday Season
This article explores how hackers are using cognitive bias techniques to target employees with high volumes of spam and phishing, based on their roles in the organization; as well as key suggestions for engaging end-users so they can identify and report suspicious emails.

Social Engineering Tactics: Taking Advantage of Trusted Brands
According to SecurityAdvisor's proprietary research, hackers leverage specific cognitive biases, or an individual's "subjective reality" that deviates from an otherwise objective norm of rational judgement. How individuals construct their reality can influence their behavior in the world, and hackers are taking it to the next level, enticing them to click on risky links and share sensitive data using a number of social engineering tactics like fake coupons (hyperbolic discounting) and fake messages from their managers (authority bias).

To understand how these social engineering tactics work, SecurityAdvisor assessed more than 500,000 data points from real world situations to see how employees were falling for these schemes and making mistakes. Each data point was mapped to one or more of the inferred biases. The chart below illustrates the top nine cognitive biases hackers use.

Hackers are no angels, but they use the halo effect more often than any other tactic. The halo effect is the tendency for an individual to have a positive impression of a person, company, brand, product or service. For companies in retail, hospitality, and travel, it's the kind of sentiment you want customers and employees to feel about your organization. But it's often that trust that is exploited most frequently by hackers.

In addition to taking advantage of trusted brands, hackers are also targeting employees' preference for receiving a small reward sooner rather than a large reward later.
Hyperbolic discounting, in which an employee is immediately rewarded, coupled with their curiosity for receiving exclusive and secret offers designed just for them, are the second and third most popular cognitive biases that hackers exploit. Again, this is based on the foundation of a brand being trusted, reputable, and reliable; and for many employees, brand loyalty - once seen as a strength by the organization they work - can now be seen as a vulnerability by hackers. securityadvisor.io

5 Key Takeaways From the SolarWinds Breach

Attackers Know Microsoft 365 Better Than You Do


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Scammers Taking Out Ads
With more online shopping this year, be wary of scams
First News spoke with those with the Better Business Bureau about how shoppers can protect themselves from scammers. Melissa Ames, vice president of BBB Services, said
a lot of people are online shopping - and shopping through social media - this year.

Right now, it's quiet for the BBB, but she said people will start to send in complaints closer to Christmas, once they don't receive gifts they've ordered. Ames said they've seen a lot of scams this year due to the rise in online shopping during the COVID-19 pandemic. She expects it to be even higher during the holidays.

Ames
said scammers are using new methods, like taking out Facebook or Instagram ads and setting up websites. She shared details from a recent BBB survey about scams. Ames said 81% of people who don't do research on a product before buying it online end up losing out. They either don't receive the product or lose money.

Ames said you should
take a few minutes to check out a retailer by looking at their reviews and seeing if their website is secure. This research can also take place at the BBB website, where you can see if other consumers have complaints about the retailer. fox8.com

Homeless Amazon Employees
Amazon Has Turned a Middle-Class Warehouse Career Into a McJob

Despite a starting wage well above the federal minimum, the company is dragging down pay in the logistics industry and bracing for a fight with unions.

Many Amazon warehouse employees struggle to pay the bills, and more than 4,000 employees are on food stamps in nine states studied by the U.S. Government Accountability Office. Only Walmart, McDonald's and two dollar-store chains have more workers requiring such assistance, according to the report, which said 70% of recipients work full-time.

As Amazon opens U.S. warehouses at the rate of about one a day, it's transforming the logistics industry from a career destination with the promise of middle-class wages into entry-level work that's just a notch above being a burger flipper or convenience store cashier.

Courtenay Brown was hired at an Amazon grocery distribution hub in Avenel, New Jersey, three years ago. For several months after joining Amazon, she and her sister, who also works there, were homeless, bouncing from one motel to another while trying to save a deposit for an apartment. bloomberg.com

AOC calls Amazon jobs a 'scam' because 4,000+ of its employees
are on food stamps
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez on Friday said Amazon's jobs are a "scam" because they're not creating financial security for workers. "A 'job' that leaves you homeless & on food stamps isn't a job. It's a scam," she said on Twitter.

Ocasio-Cortez referenced a Bloomberg News report detailing how many Amazon warehouse workers struggle to pay bills, with as many as 4,000 on food stamps. The report said Amazon has turned logistics work from a professional career option to "entry-level" work for many. As Amazon's workforce has soared during the pandemic, safety conditions in its warehouses have failed to keep pace, according to the report. businessinsider.com

US investigation finds Amazon illegally fired warehouse worker

FedEx profit leaps on rate hikes, e-commerce shipments


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Snapshots from NRF's 2020 ORC Report

Majority of Retailers Victimized by Cargo Theft



See full report here
 



17 Arrests & 67 million Cigarettes Seized
Customs thwart illegal cigarette trade in the EU & UK

Total seizure worth 35.82M euros & tax loss prevented from this illegal trade
estimated at 30M euros


Law enforcement authorities from 15 EU Member States* and the UK teamed up last month to dismantle a criminal network illegally trading cigarettes. Supported by Europol and the European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF), the joint operation took place between 2 and 13 November 2020. Led by the customs departments of Lithuania and the UK, the operation was facilitated by intelligence analysis of excise duty suspension abuse. The fraud scheme consisted of illegally diverting cigarettes from EU internal and external transit customs procedures to the black market without paying millions in taxes.

The operation led to:

 17 suspects arrested;

 67 million cigarettes and 2.6 tonnes of tobacco seized worth 35.82 million euros, with 88% of the cigarettes seized produced in Belarus;

 the most significant seizures of the illegally traded cigarettes were made in Lithuania (28.75 million), the UK (9 million), Poland (6 million), Ireland (3.5 million), Romania (2.2 million), Sweden (500 000), Latvia (740 000) and Croatia (150 000);

 Ten vehicles seized in eight of the participating countries. europol.europa.eu

Holly Springs, NC: Police thwart real-life Grinch during Shop-With-A-Cop at Target
A suspected thief picked a bad time to go shoplifting at a Target Saturday morning, as Holly Springs Police were just arriving to meet with families for their annual Shop-With-A-Cop event. "Unfortunately, there was a Grinch who tried to steal Christmas today... literally," read a post to the police department's Facebook page. Mark Andrews, spokesperson for the Town of Holly Springs told ABC11, about ten officers were arriving at the Target at Holly Springs Towne Center when the suspected shoplifter ditched a shopping cart with nearly $2,300 in merchandise he had staged and was ready to steal. "The lookout for the suspect thought the police had arrived to arrest them," Andrews said. Andrews said at about the same time the first officer went inside the store to greet the eight families officers were going to shop with that day, they got a report from an employee that there had been an attempted theft. In the abandoned shopping cart, police said they found three backpacks from the store, filled with electronics and clothes. abc11.com

Ramseur, NC: Security camera footage shows suspects of Pawn shop burglary drive into shop, steal guns
The front doors of a pawn shop were obliterated on Friday. Burglary suspects drove what's believed to be a stolen vehicle through Silver Dollar Gun and Pawn in Ramseur, according to a Ramseur Police Department news release. The break-in happened overnight in eastern Randolph County around 2 a.m.. Once the suspects smashed through the glass, security cameras caught them running through the store and stealing guns. The suspects abandoned the vehicle and left in another car. myfox8.com

Mattoon, IL: Woman gets 3 year in prison for $770 theft from Walmart
A woman serving prison time for a stolen vehicle conviction received another prison sentence when she admitted stealing merchandise from the Mattoon Walmart last year. Courtney L. Ray, 25, of Decatur, pleaded guilty to a retail theft charge that accused her of taking numerous Halloween decorations from the store on Sept. 21, 2019. The charge was a felony because of the value of the stolen items. Ray received a three-year prison sentence and was also ordered to pay nearly $770 in restitution. jg-tc.com

Salt Lake City, UT: Update: $10,000 reward for information that leads to arrests in several Utah gun store burglaries
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives is offering cash rewards to help recover dozens of firearms stolen in Utah this year. ATF agents are looking for more than 60 pistols and rifles that were stolen in four burglaries at gun stores from St. George to Layton. The majority of the guns are still out on the streets and that's a huge concern for law enforcement. fox13now.com

Auburndale, FL: Four accused of selling 'jail-broken' Amazon Fire TV Sticks at Auburndale flea market
Polk County investigators arrested four suspects at the International Market World Flea Market for illegally selling "jail-broken" Amazon Fire TV Sticks, they said. The suspects were identified as 71-year-old Lorinda Marlene Holm, 88-year-old Bongwoo Roe, 34-year-old Luis Gabriel Vazquez, and 59-year-old Grace Yarbrough. The devices would allow access to internet-based streaming services for free, "without expressed authorization of the communications service provider and without payment for the services." fox13news.com

Fort Mills, SC: Lowe's Power Toot thief caught on second attempted theft in a day; nearly $900 of merchandise recovered


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Shootings & Deaths

Tucson, AZ: 3 facing murder charge in shooting death of C- store clerk
Tucson police are investigating a deadly shooting that happened on the south side Saturday morning. Officers responded to the Quik Mart on S. Park Avenue for a welfare check on a convenience store clerk, according to TPD. Upon arrival, officers found a man inside the store with obvious signs of gunshot trauma. Shortly after Tucson Fire medics responded, the victim was pronounced dead at the scene, police say. The victim/ employee has been identified as 47-year-old Toby Lee Uribe Through continued investigation, it was determined that just before 3 a.m. two men entered the store, one man forcibly opened a beer cooler, while the second man pointed a firearm at Uribe, according to TPD. The first suspect left the store with the items when the second suspect fired his weapon striking Uribe. kgun9.com

Miami, FL: Man shot and killed over $10 debt outside a Little River Gas Station
A woman who identified herself as the girlfriend of a man shot and killed outside a Miami gas station early Sunday morning said she believes his death was over a $10 debt. "Word on the street is that it was over $10 from a couple years ago," Nicole Marks said. Police placed yellow evidence markers on the outdoor countertop at the Chevron gas station convenience store in Miami's Little River neighborhood. Authorities received the 911 call around 3:45 a.m. Sunday. local10.com

Los Angeles, CA: Children Sue Westfield Mall, Shooting Suspect Over Father's Death
A lawsuit was brought against Westfield Century City Mall on behalf of three children of a man fatally shot outside a restaurant in January. A lawsuit was brought against Westfield Century City Mall on behalf of three children of a man fatally shot outside a restaurant in January, alleging police should have been called after an argument broke out among patrons before the situation escalated. The shooting occurred about 10:30 p.m. Jan. 20 at the mall in the 10200 block of Santa Monica Boulevard and resulted in the death of Ryan Deshane Givens Jr., 29, of Los Angeles. The three plaintiffs are minors and the Los Angeles Superior Court lawsuit filed Monday alleges wrongful death, negligence and assault and battery. Also named as defendants are Javier's Century City, a Mexican food restaurant, and the accused shooter, 27-year-old Brandon Hinton. patch.com

Houston, TX: 16-year-old gunman who shot woman in head outside Houston gas station is still on the run
A 16-year-old male opened fire on a vehicle at a north Houston gas station late Thursday, shooting a young woman in the back of the head, police said. The shooting was reported before 9 p.m. outside a store in the 1300 block of Crosstimbers, according to the Houston Police Department. As of late Friday morning, police had not released the teenager's identity because he is facing charges in juvenile court. Police said the teen is still on the run and facing a charge of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. The victim's name has also not been released, but police said she is an 18-year-old who is in critical condition. Police said the victim and a 20-year-old man were sitting in a car outside the gas station when the suspect came outside. He looked into the vehicle and then opened fire on both before fleeing the scene. khou.com

Brockton, MA: Woman Shot in Taco Bell Parking Lot
A 27-year-old woman was shot in the head outside of a Taco Bell in Brockton in the early hours of Monday morning. Police responded to the Taco Bell parking lot after a reported shooting at 1:12 a.m. Officers began treating the victim for a gunshot wound to the head. Investigators believe the shooting happened while she was parked and sitting in the driver's seat of her Honda Civic. The bullet struck another vehicle as well. No other injuries were reported. nbcboston.com

 



Robberies, Incidents & Thefts

Virginia Beach, VA: Police Chief responds to viral video of innocent man being detained inside food court of Lynnhaven Mall
A video showing a Black man being detained in Lynnhaven Mall on Saturday has gone viral over social media, resulting in an investigation by the Virginia Beach Police Department. In the video posted by BLM 757, it shows a Black man eating with his family in the food court of the mall, when an officer began to put his hands behind his back to handcuff him. In the video you can hear both the man and a woman he is with questioning the officers as to what is going on. The video shows the officer continuing to walk the man outside of the mall handcuffed as the man pleads for the reasoning. The officer releases the man once outside and begins to explain why he detained the man, as seen in the video. In the video the officer says that a description of another Black man fit his description. The officer attempts to apologize for the misunderstanding in the video, but the man continues to express the embarrassment he has faced. wavy.com

Visalia, CA: Wild video shows screaming 'shoplifter' dragged across the floor by security guards during apprehension
A witness says it happened Wednesday at the WinCo Foods on Caldwell Ave. in Visalia. In the video, the woman is seen kicking her legs while crying and pleading for help. Visalia Police Department confirmed 27-year-old Victoria Vargas of Hanford was caught, with a male companion, stealing expensive tequila. 25-year-old Raul Luna of Hanford ran from the store while Vargas was detained but he returned later and was arrested. You can also hear the man recording the incident telling the two WinCo employees, "You can't drag her, it's illegal." tmz.com

Houston, TX: Hit and run, robbery take place at Willowbrook Mall
Houston Police are investigating the scene at Willowbrook Mall, after receiving a call about a hit and run and a robbery on Sunday, Dec. 20. Police received the hit and run call around 2:50 p.m., the robbery tip came in about ten minutes later.  fox26houston.com

New York, NY: Fire truck slams into children's clothing store overnight in Brooklyn


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C-Store - Titusville, FL - Armed Robbery
C-Store - Cleveland, OH - Armed Robbery
C-Store - Kenosha, WI - Burglary
Dollar General - Yorktown, IN - Armed Robbery
Family Dollar - Carolina Beach, NC - Armed Robbery
Hardware - Bettendorf, IA - Robbery
Jewelry - Palm Springs, FL - Robbery
Jewelry - Santa Cruz, NM - Burglary
Jewelry - Cerritos, CA - Robbery
Jewelry - Glendale, CA - Robbery
Jewelry - Pleasant Prairie, WI - Robbery
Jewelry - Roanoke, VA - Robbery
Jewelry - Anderson, SC - Robbery
Jewelry - Heath, OH - Armed Robbery
Jewelry - Castle Rock, CO - Robbery
Jewelry - Castle Rock, NY - Robbery
Jewelry - Memphis, TN - Robbery
Jewelry - La Crosse, WI - Burglary
Jewelry - Cincinnati, OH - Burglary
Pawn - Ramseur, NC - Burglary
Pawn - Goshen, IN - Burglary
Pharmacy - Lincoln, NE - Burglary
Restaurant - Baltimore County, MD - Robbery (Popeyes)
Restaurant - Kenosha, WI - Burglary
Restaurant - San Francisco, CA - Burglary
Thrift - Richmond Springs, NY - Robbery
Thrift - Green River, WY - Burglary
Verizon - Baltimore County, MD - Armed Robbery

 

Daily Totals:
• 18 robberies
• 10 burglaries
• 0 shootings
• 0 killed



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Taylor Plott is now BricTECH Support Specialist for Sennco Solutions



Joe Hall named Loss Prevention Site Lead for Amazon


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