We assist retailers in analysing their Point of Sale (POS) data. Given the volume of data and the format of data files typically used, a successful analysis requires significant data mining and retail expertise.

We are able to analyse the data rapidly and efficiently, thereby identifying those transactions that require further investigation.

Every day a business will unknowingly lose money from a cash register or EFTPOS machine. Only then will they realise that an EFTPOS terminal can be a cash machine for unscrupulous employees. This is not a hypothetical situation, but a reality and many businesses are losing substantial amounts of money each day.

Rushmore Forensic analyse point of sale data and ensure that fraudulent transactions are either identified or the potential for fraud is minimised in the future.

Common fraud scenarios include:

False void

  • Cashier makes legitimate sale, keeps customer receipt, then uses receipt to process false void. The surplus is removed before the end of the shift.
  • Cashier voids sale. The item is then subsequently refunded (despite having been voided).

Skimming

  • Theft of cash from a retailer before it is recorded in the system.
  • Unrecorded sales. Cashier makes sale, takes cash, not rung through register.
  • Understated sales. Cashier makes sale, takes cash, but only rings through a portion of the sale (smaller cost or quantity).

No sale

  • Cashier rings ‘No Sale’ on legitimate purchase. Looks like transaction was recorded. Surplus cash is accumulated and removed at end of shift.

Staff discounts

  • Discounted goods returned with no receipt at same or another store for full refund or sold to friends at lower price than retail.

Under-tilling or Sweethearting

  • Cashier rings in a sale at a lower amount than the item is priced, for an accomplice.

Substitute scanning

  • Scanning two items at the same time, resulting in only one item being recorded.  Generally only detected from video footage or surveillance.

Markdown fraud

  • This occurs when an employee takes an item from the shop floor to a markdown machine, creates a price tag for the item that is lower than the true price of the item, and then purchases the item at the lower price.

Cheque fraud

  • Cashier alters cheque and pockets the difference. At the end of the shift, the cash count will be lower, and the cheque total higher, but the total cash and cheques will balance to the register.
  • Customer pays for goods using cheques from fraudulent accounts and claiming cash refunds before the cheques bounce.

Fictitious refund

  • A person takes merchandise from the shop floor, “returns” it using discarded customer receipt.
  • Refunds to debit cards are particularly suspicious, as it’s straight cash, not just credit against credit card.
  • Multiple refunds, from different assistants, using the same receipt (the cashier doesn’t retain the original receipt).
  • Multiple refunds, from different stores, where the same item is returned twice (the cashier doesn’t retain the original receipt).
  • A cashier has made a refund to a particular debit or credit card on more than 4 occasions. This could indicate a relationship between the cashier and the customer, collusion or the cashier and the customer could turn out to be the same person.

Loyalty cards

  • A cashier uses their own loyalty card to accumulate points from customer purchases.

Store cards

  • Cashier skims or acquires customer Store card numbers and uses information to purchase goods on customer accounts.

Credit card fraud

  • Stolen credit card used to purchase goods, then refunds to a valid debit card.

Gift vouchers

  • A Gift Voucher is used more than once, by the same cashier (less than an hour apart).

Staff Commission

  • Cashiers sell and refund expensive items. The cashier earns a commission on each sale, but the refunds are shared across the department.

If you are concerned about this type of fraud, please do not hesitate to contact us for a confidential discussion.

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