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FaceFirst

Face Recognition: Do You Know
Who's In Your Store?

Peter Trepp, CEO, FaceFirst

FaceFirst is the global market leader in facial recognition systems for retail stores, including superstores, grocery, pharmacies and other retail environments. FaceFirst helps retailers create safer stores, great customer experiences and personalized service through face recognition and AI. Peter Trepp, CEO of FaceFirst, talks about the increased adoption of face recognition by retailers, the many ways the technology can be used in stores, and what sets it apart from other retail security solutions.

Quick Take 6 with Axis Communications

Hedgie Bartol, Retail Business Development Manager,
Axis Communications with MCs Joe LaRocca
and Amber Bradley

Amber and Joe meet up with a familiar face – the one and only Hedgie Bartol of Axis Communications. With LP departments being tasked with doing more in the store, learn how Axis is helping retailers leverage network enabled technologies to create a truly connected store. Also, hear Joe LaRocca do a southern accent.

Moving Up
Sponsored by Agilence
 

Dikaios Mihalitsis promoted to Director of Asset Protection & Inventory Control for Rent the Runway
Dikaios was previously the Director of Inventory for the online retailer for over a year before this promotion. Prior, he also held various roles in shortage control and finances for Bloomingdale's including Shortage Control - Director of Compliance, Shortage Control - Regional Controller, Financial Control - Manager of New Store Construction, Travel Business Office, Competitive Bidding and Properties Accounting Supervisor. He earned his Bachelors degree in Finance from Baruch College. Congratulations Dikaios!

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Legislation for Cybersecurity of Internet-of-Things Introduced
Bipartisan legislation has been introduced in the Senate and the House of Representative to improve the cybersecurity of Internet-connected devices. The Internet of Things (IoT) Cybersecurity Improvement Act of 2019 would require that devices purchased by the U.S. government meet certain minimum security requirements.

The legislation is being introduced in the Senate by U.S. Sens. Mark R. Warner (D-VA) and Cory Gardner(R-CO), co-chairs of the Senate Cybersecurity Caucus, along with Sens. Maggie Hassan (D-NH) and Steve Daines (R-MT), while Reps. Robin Kelly (D-IL) and Will Hurd (R-TX) are introducing companion legislation in the House of Representatives. securitymagazine.com

Cyber-Attacks Increasing for Canadian Orgs
Cybersecurity threats are intensifying in Canada, with a large majority (76%) of organizations saying they have been the victim of a cyber-attack in the past 12 months, according to a new report.

“Of these, 33% have seen up to a 25% increase, 19% have seen an increase of between 26-50% and 15% have seen a 51-100% increase in attack volumes. 10% have witnessed increases of more than 100%.”

According to the report, the average number of breaches per surveyed organization was 3.42, with more than three-quarters (76%) of companies experiencing an increase in attack volumes. Given that 81% of surveyed organizations said that attacks have become more sophisticated, it’s not surprising that 85% of participating organizations plan to increase spending on cyber-defense. infosecurity-magazine.com

Cyber Criminals Have Turned Social Media Cyber Crime Into a $3 Billion Business
The same social media platforms that you use to keep up with friends and family – Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube – have given rise to a vast global cyber criminal network, according to a new report by cybersecurity firm Bromium. The report on social media cyber crime, carried out as part of a six-month academic study by a criminology expert at the University of Surrey in the UK, detailed all of the various tactics – ranging from cryptojacking to botnets for hire – used by cyber criminals around the world to earn nearly $3.25 billion annually by exploiting popular social platforms. cpomagazine.com

North Korean hackers net $670 million in foreign currency through crypto-attacks, reports UN Security Council panel
A report detailing North Korea’s evasion of economic embargos using blockchain technology was revealed by a Tokyo-based media outlet, Nikkei Asian Review. The report published by the United Nation Security Council [UNSC] panel cited that North Korean hackers carried out a series of cyber attacks on overseas financial institutions. The controversial East Asian country had leveraged blockchain technology in a bid to conceal its trail and allegedly hoarded nearly $670 million in foreign currency. ambcrypto.com

Never, Ever Use Duplicate Passwords

It feels like every week some major hotel chain, online service or health care provider has some type of breach. The most common information compromised is username and password data. Oftentimes hackers take your usernames and passwords and use them to try and get into your other accounts. For example, if your Netflix password is the same as your Amazon password, if someone gets your Netflix password, now they can shop with your Amazon account as well as watch movies. To make using a different password for each account simpler, you can use a password manager.

The Debate Continues:
How to Curb Rising Liquor Thefts Across Canada

Why Some Canadian Retailers Use A Hands-Off Approach to Prevent Shoplifting
'Seeing nothing done does not mean nothing is being done.'

By Stephen O'Keefe
President, Bottom Line Matters

The one thing I can tell you after 30 years in the retail LP world with 3 major companies and several expat roles is that there are no 2 Loss Prevention programs the same.

People often ask me when there will be some kind of standardization for the trade, and my response is the same: "Probably never”.

The most successful LP programs are those that adapt to their environment. That means taking the lead from the merchants and operators. Conducting the risk assessment, getting their commitment to risk appetite, and paving the way for a unique loss prevention program to absorb the bumps along the way makes them all different. In fact, I even used “Loss Prevention” as the general title for the function; sorry to those who are Asset Protection, Resources Protection, Enterprise Risk Management, Corporate Security, Profit Protection…you know I basically mean all of you who do “that job."

Recently, some Canadian retailers have been in the spotlight (see coverage below), pressed by the media to explain why they seem to have a “hands-off” policy whereby they let shoplifters get away with major thefts. “Why don’t they stop them?” is a question asked by onlooking customers concerned about their tax dollars (the retailer recently highlighted our government-owned liquor stores).

And in many cases the retailers are silent. That’s okay, it’s their prerogative. And we don’t want to share too much with the public on exactly what are systems are, as the nefarious actors will use that information to try to beat the system.

The “Hands-Off” approach has been more widely used by many retailers with the increase in technology allowing them to collect evidence digitally and build a case against the shoplifters. You may already know this, but the public doesn’t and at times some mid-level LP management may not know the method to the madness of the LP Executive.

Click here to read O'Keefe's "5 Key Talking Points" to explain this approach.

Staff making arrests not a solution to liquor thefts, security analyst Stephen O'Keefe says
Despite calls for Winnipeg Liquor Mart staff to react more aggressively in response to ongoing daylight booze thefts, a loss prevention consultant says there are a number of reasons why that’s unlikely to happen.

Retail security analyst Stephen O’Keefe told 680 CJOB that staff – including security guards – at retail stores aren’t necessarily given free rein to make arrests if they witness a theft, and typically do not engage.

“The liquor stores are not standalone unique when they tell regular employees not to arrest,” said O’Keefe.

“First, under the criminal code, they may not have all the elements to be able to execute a proper arrest. Second, there’s been a lot of new legislation around the licensing of private investigators. Thirdly, and probably the most important, is the safety aspect in order to make a safe arrest.”

O’Keefe, who does not have Manitoba Liquor and Lotteries as a client, said in many cases, security guards are also told not to make arrests, but rather to collect evidence for police.

“With the amount of technology that’s now available, you really don’t have to arrest people on the spot,” he said. ”You can work with police and execute an arrest after the fact.

O’Keefe said there are a number of preventative measures Liquor Marts could conceivably take – from controlled access doors, to security tags, to alarms that go off as soon as a thief exits the building – to help reduce liquor thefts.

The idea of keeping all of the products behind the counter, however, is something he doesn’t think will fly in a liquor store. globalnews.ca

Thieves treating LCBO like personal ‘ATM machines’
Toronto officer says more cops won't help
A veteran Toronto police officer says thieves are treating vulnerable LCBO stores like their personal “ATM machines” but he doesn’t think more paid duty officers is the answer. Neil Corrigan, Unit Commander at 14 Division, says he’s seen first-hand the startling spike in thefts at LCBOs across the city.

“Unfortunately the reality is that street people, persons with drug dependencies, alcohol dependencies, have come to believe that LCBOs are simply their ATM machines. They can go in there without harassment, take alcohol, go out and either consume it or sell it for drugs … and it’s adding, quite frankly in my opinion, to some of the disorder issues that we are experiencing.”

While he acknowledges that the presence of officers can be an effective deterrent, he believes the costs are unsustainable. He puts much of the onus on the LCBO to find more cost-efficient ways to prevent theft. citynews.ca

3 Sixty Secure Corp. announces security guarding contract with LCBO
Security service provider 3 Sixty Risk Solutions Ltd., which operates through its wholly-owned subsidiary, 3 Sixty Secure Corp., has been selected to provide security guarding services to the Liquor Control Board of Ontario for stores located in the Northern, Eastern and Western Regions. The initial term of the contract is two years with the option to renew annually for up to five years. canadiansecuritymag.com

Brazen daylight liquor store thefts continue around Winnipeg

Mr. Sub owner in Saskatoon lays out rules of retail to prevent armed robberies
Restaurant has gone two years without a robbery
Shailesh Patel says the night staff at his Mr. Sub restaurant on the west side of Saskatoon ask only one thing of customers: Show your face. Patel says that's not the only reason the restaurant has gone two years without a robbery, but that it's an important element.

The remote location makes it a tempting target for thieves. Police reported 12 armed robberies in the city over the past month. Four of them happened at the strip mall where Patel's Mr. Sub is located.

Patel invested in a remote lock system on the restaurant's second door. A customer comes through the first door into an anteroom. The night staff can see the customer, both in person and on camera. If their face is covered, they don't get in. If they give off a vibe that unsettles the staffer, they don't get in. Further, every corner inside the store is visible on the store's surveillance cameras.

Patel isn't certain what can be done to reduce the robbery rate for the strip mall overall. Bigger and brighter lighting in the parking lot could help, as would a regular police or security presence. Until then, he's staying with what works. "Open your face, we open the door." cbc.ca

Former Walmart LP Officer Accuses Police of Playing Up His Arrest for Cameras
The Edmonton PD Was Filming Online Video Series During Arrest
In 2013, Edmonton police launched an online video series following a group of officers as they patrolled city streets. The hope was that the weekly show, called The Squad, would attract recruits and give Edmontonians an idea of what it’s like to be a cop in the city. A man whose arrest was filmed for the short-lived YouTube series was granted permission last month to appeal his complaint against seven officers to the Court of Appeal of Alberta.

Christopher Conlin, a former loss prevention officer at a local Walmart, said he was injured and humiliated during an arrest at his home in 2013. In his disciplinary complaint, as well as a lawsuit filed in 2015, he claims his arrest was played up for the benefit of the cameras.

Conlin, now 35, was arrested in April 2013, after police were told he had assaulted someone while arresting them at Walmart a few days before. Officers claim they also suspected he was impersonating a police officer because he was carrying a baton and what they described as an RCMP ID.

Conlin went to a lawyer the day after. The episode featuring his arrest was never posted. edmontonjournal.com

Register Today
RCC's Retail Cannabis Forum coming March 26 in Toronto
Retail Council of Canada's Retail Cannabis Forum will inspire attendees to explore retail opportunities and innovation in this new market, as well as discuss the challenges associated with industry regulations. This is a must-attend event for anyone who is interested in learning about the opportunities and challenges for retailers in this highly regulated market. Supplier and industry partners will want to hear from Canada's leading cannabis retailers and distributors to learn how they can better engage with this sector of the retail industry. Click here to register and learn more. retailcouncil.org

Canada Store Openings & Expansions
● L.L. Bean Announces Location of 1st Store in Canada
● “Korean” Variety Retailer ‘Ximivogue’ to Enter Canadian Market
● Grocery Concept ‘Market 63 by Coppa’s’ Opens 1st Downtown Store, in Toronto
● BeaverTails set to open store in downtown Kingston
● Canadian Tire mega store set for March 21st opening
● The Detox Market Opens Impressive New Canadian Flagship
● Donnelly Group to launch nine-store Hobo cannabis retail chain
● Quebec cannabis stores to open in Montreal, Brossard and other areas
● New Look Eyewear’s first Western Canadian store opens in Courtenay

Retailers receive rebate returns of nearly $500,000 in 2018 as part of RCC/WSIB safety group

Equifax Canada finds Canadians taking fewer steps to protect personal information

Vancouver Police Department awards officers, civilians for acts of bravery

Robberies & Burglaries

● C-Store - Winnipeg, MB - Armed Robbery (Ellice Ave.)
● C-Store - Winnipeg, MB - Armed Robbery (Portage Ave & Langside St.)
● C-Store - Barrie, ON - Armed Robbery
● Drug Store - New Germany, NS - Armed Robbery
● Gas Station - St. John's, NL - Armed Robbery
● Kim's Confectionary - Yellowknife, NT - Armed Robbery
● Pizza Store - St. John's, NL - Armed Robbery
● Pot Shop - Hamilton, ON - Armed Robbery/Shooting
● Pot Store - Kamloops, BC - Armed Robbery
● Undisclosed Store - Huron, ON - Burglary/Smash & Grab
● Undisclosed Store - Montreal, QC - Armed Robbery
● Vape Shop - St. Norbert, MB - Burglary

Mystery Amazon deliveries likely fake review scheme called 'brushing'
The scam inflates the number of good reviews a product has which moves that item up on Amazon's website.

Portlanders are getting mysterious packages in the mail from Amazon that they never ordered and never paid for. Since our story first aired Sunday, we have heard from many people who have had the same thing happen. In some cases, consumer advocates say this is happening to generate fake online reviews for products.

The scam is called "brushing". The more reviews a product has, the more likely you are to see it on Amazon's website and buy it. Items with good reviews are moved closer to the top of the page.

Here is how it works in a nutshell. The seller will buy their own product and then either ship that product or a cheap trinket out to an unsuspecting person. Then, because it looks like someone actually bought the product, the seller can go online and write a fake positive review.

“At the end of the day, the goal is to sell whatever product it is you want and make sure you're not looking at their competitor,” says Jason Brown, a consumer advocate who works for a company called Review Fraud.

The company specializes in exposing businesses that are faking online reviews to make money. Brown said he is all too familiar with these mysterious Amazon packages.

“It happens so often and people are just completely bewildered, why did I just get all these packages from Amazon and the problem is you can't send the stuff back, you're stuck with it,” Brown said.

Amazon said it is constantly working to detect fake reviews, pull them off the website, and hold offenders accountable. Amazon also said it has safe guards in place to try to ensure only real customers are writing reviews. kgw.com

Amazon quietly ends its third-party pricing parity policy
Amazon.com Inc. has removed a clause in its contracts that had required third-party marketplace sellers to set their prices on Amazon at the same price, or lower, than their prices elsewhere online.

Amazon has long leveraged that clause, which is known as a price parity agreement, to ensure that consumers wouldn’t be able to find lower prices for marketplace sellers’ items on the sellers’ websites or other marketplaces such as Walmart, Jet or eBay.

Amazon quietly made the change amid an environment that’s increasingly hostile to the outsized influence of large technology companies. For example, Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) in December sent letters to the Justice Department and the Federal Trade Commission demanding investigations into Amazon’s contracts with marketplace sellers. The letters referenced British and German investigations conducted a few years ago into its use of pricing parity agreement (those investigations led the retailer to drop the clause in Europe). digitalcommerce360.com

Dick's Sporting Goods e-commerce sales up 17% in Q4 2018

eMarketer: Amazon Prime memberships to reach more than half of U.S. households

ORC News
Sponsored by Auror
 

Champaign, IL: Woman gets 2 years probation for theft in $10,000 Target gift-card scheme
A Dolton woman has been sentenced to two years of probation in connection with a gift-card scheme at Target. Asia Neely, 22, pleaded guilty Tuesday to a felony charge of theft over $10,000. In addition to the probation, Judge Tom Difanis also ordered her to pay restitution to her victim. Neely was one of four women that police said were responsible for the theft of several thousand dollars worth of merchandise and gift cards from Target, between Dec. 13 and Jan. 3. The report said security officials at the store became aware that Dejujuana Poke of Savoy, who was employed as a cashier over the holidays, had accepted counterfeit bills from four unknown people on two occasions between Dec. 13 and 27. news-gazette.com

Seal Beach, CA: Two Arrested for Robbery at Ulta Beauty; attempted Grab & Run turns to Robbery/Assault
Two Long Beach men in their early 20s have been arrested in Seal Beach on suspicion of robbing an Ulta Beauty. The suspects, identified as Isaiah Gurley, 22, and Nicholas Ray, 20, were arrested soon after the robbery, which occurred about 3:05 p.m. Monday, according to Seal Beach P. According to Police, one suspect entered the store, selected some fragrances and other items from the shelves and attempted to leave without paying. The store manager confronted the suspect, and a struggle ensued. The suspect fled and got into a waiting vehicle. Seal Beach officers located the vehicle and arrested the suspects. nbclosangeles.com

Salina, KS: 4 Arrested in Theft Scheme at Walmart and Target

Fresno, CA: Video Released: Man pepper sprays T-Mobile employees, steals $8,000 worth of merchandise

Newtown, PA: Police seeking suspect in $1,200 theft of Medicine and Vitamins from CVS

Peoria, IL: JC Penney Shoplifter flees Store Detective, gets in her car then gives back the $620 in merchandise; “"Forget it. You can have the clothes back"

Update: Cedar Rapids, IA: Two Arrested in $200,000 Theft of Motorcycles, Dirt Bikes and ATV’s

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