Category Archives: Technology

The East Anglian Daily Times carries a story of four Asda checkout operators who stole hundreds of items in a “skim-scanning” fiddle.

Rachel Hassall, Angelina Mosley, Sally-Anne Sadler and Tracey Tate helped each other to avoid paying for items by “elevating” them over the scanning devices at checkouts.

A 24-year-old bank worker took part in a “sophisticated fraud” which saw scammers steal millions of pounds from rich customers using a string of impersonators.

Molly Jones scoured computer systems at Lloyds Bank for rarely-accessed accounts holding large sums of money before passing the details to a criminal gang.

As reported on the Mail Online website, Australian self-service checkouts may soon offer ‘human conversation’ in a move to combat shoplifting in supermarkets.

Researchers from Queensland’s Univeristy of Technology believe the machines may soon offer personal greetings and friendly comments to guilt shoplifters out of stealing.

The Yorkshire Times gives details of a joint operation between West Yorkshire Police and BACIL (Business Against Crime in Leeds) to run a day of action to tackle shoplifting in the city centre.

Known as ‘Operation Balmton’, the manoeuvre consisted of police officers, PCSOs and plain clothed security officers working together in teams.

The Telegraph reports that a shoplifter has been prosecuted for stealing £60 of washing-up goods – after she was caught fleeing a Savers store on Google Street View.

Whilst her face had been blurred out by Google, Cleveland Police identified Tammy McIvor from her distinctive white outfit, which she was wearing when she was arrested.

The Simply Business website reports that almost 50% of SMEs have fallen victim to invoice fraud over the past 12 months, with summer being a particularly common time for fraudsters to strike, as permanent staff take their holidays, leaving less experienced staff or temps to take care of things .