Retail Crime Prevention

Most businesses think funds transfer fraud will never reach them, until it does. All it takes is one rushed email, one account change request, or one moment of trust in the wrong place. Once the money moves, it’s almost impossible to get it back. Ask yourself: what would happen if someone requested a new account or urgent transfer today? Would it be verified, or would the money move without question? If you are responsible for keeping cash in your business accounts, run a short, discreet test this week. ☛ A few small steps can prevent big losses: ✔ Confirm payment changes with a phone call you place to a number you already know. ✔ Require dual approval for wires and ACH. ✔ Separate who requests, who approves, and who releases. ✔ Review your vendor and client contact info regularly and maintain known good numbers. Fraud prevention is not about paranoia. It’s about process and discipline. ⚑ Learn more from this U.S. Secret Service resource on preventing wire fraud: https://lnkd.in/ehs-eNyn #FraudPrevention #Cybersecurity #BusinessSecurity #WireFraud #SMB #FinancialSafety #FundsTransferFraud #RiskManagement #SecureBusiness

Red light. Foot on the brake. Mind on the next delivery…and then a stranger walks up from the shoulder and tries to climb into the passenger side of the truck. That’s a driver security incident and it can turn into a hijacking, an assault, or a robbery in about 2 seconds. We talk a lot about “no riders” policies but the real-world point is👇 Your cab is not a public place. It’s your workspace. Your doors should act like it. Carjacking is a known, tracked crime type (separate from general vehicle theft). The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) reported the carjacking incident rate declined from 7.5 to 6.6 per 100,000 people from 2022 to 2023 still thousands of incidents, and commercial vehicles aren’t magically exempt. Verisk CargoNet recorded 772 cargo theft events in the U.S. and Canada in Q3 2025. Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has also flagged crimes against drivers (including harassment/assault) as serious enough to warrant dedicated federal research into prevalence and contributing factors. 👉Keep your doors locked any time you’re in the seat, especially stopped in traffic, shoulders, ramps, and terminals. 👉If you leave it running at the pump while you run in, don't. Take the key and lock the door. 👉Keep your windows up in sketchy areas and at long lights. 👉Leave yourself an “out” stop with space in front so you can roll if something goes sideways. 👉If someone approaches the cab, don’t engage through an open door. Horn, move if safe, call 911/dispatch, and document the location. This is one of those “small habits” that prevents big problems. #riskmitigation #exposuremanagement

# Staying Safe at Home from Strangers: Ensuring safety at home from strangers is crucial for personal security and peace of mind. Whether you live alone or with family, adopting certain safety measures can significantly reduce the risk of intrusions and unwanted encounters. # Tips for Staying Safe: 1. Secure Entry Points: a) Lock Doors and Windows: Always keep doors and windows locked, even when you are at home. Use deadbolts and additional security locks. b) Peephole or Security Camera: Install a peephole or a doorbell camera to see who is at your door before opening it. 2. Verify Before Opening: a) Ask for Identification: If a stranger claims to be from a service company, always ask for identification and verify with the company before letting them in. b) Speak Through the Door: If you don’t recognize the person, talk to them through the door rather than opening it. 3. Limit Information Sharing: a) Be Cautious with Social Media: Avoid sharing your location or daily routines on social media platforms. b) Don’t Disclose Personal Information: Be cautious about sharing personal details with strangers over the phone or online. 4. Neighborhood Awareness: a) Know Your Neighbors: Build a rapport with neighbors so you can look out for each other and report any suspicious activities. b) Community Alerts: Join neighborhood watch programs or community alert systems to stay informed about local safety issues. 5. Emergency Preparedness: a) Have a Plan: Establish a safety plan for emergencies, including escape routes and safe places to go. b) Emergency Contacts: Keep a list of emergency contacts easily accessible, including neighbors, family, and local authorities. 6. Use Technology Wisely: a) Home Security Systems: Invest in a reliable home security system with alarms, motion sensors, and surveillance cameras. b) Smart Home Devices: Use smart locks, lights, and other devices that can be controlled remotely to enhance security. 7. Personal Safety Practices: a) Don’t Let Strangers In: Avoid letting strangers into your home, even if they seem harmless or in need of help. Offer to call assistance for them instead. b) Trust Your Instincts: If something feels off or makes you uncomfortable, trust your instincts and take necessary precautions. By implementing these safety tips, you can create a safer home environment and protect yourself and your loved ones from potential dangers posed by strangers. Always stay vigilant and proactive about your home security.

As a Retired FBI Special Agent now working as a licensed private investigator specializing in financial investigations —I’ve seen firsthand how devastating an employee embezzlement can be for a small businesses. Here are three simple internal controls every business owner should put in place to help prevent it: 1. Separate Financial Duties: No single employee should control all aspects of a financial transaction. Separate responsibilities for billing, receiving payments, and reconciling accounts. 2. Require Dual Signatures: For any check, transfer, or significant financial transaction, require two authorized signatures or approvals. 3. Conduct Surprise Audits: Unannounced reviews of financial records can deter fraud and quickly uncover any irregularities. Good controls don’t just protect money — they protect trust. Let me know if I can ever help. 
#FraudPrevention #SmallBusiness #InternalControls #FinancialCrime

Preventing Fraud in a Warehouse involves a combination of strong internal controls, vigilant management, and continuous monitoring. Here are practical and effective steps to prevent fraud in a warehouse: 1. Implement Strong Access Controls -Limit access to inventory and sensitive areas to authorized personnel only. -Use ID badges, biometric scanners, or keycards to track and control entry. 2. Segregation of Duties -Ensure that no single employee is responsible for all aspects of a transaction (e.g., receiving, recording, and issuing inventory). -Separate roles between ordering, receiving, and stock reconciliation. 3. Regular Inventory Audits -Conduct regular cycle counts and surprise audits. -Reconcile physical inventory with records frequently to detect discrepancies. 4. Use a Warehouse Management System (WMS) -Implement a digital system to track all inventory movement. -Automate alerts for unusual transactions or inventory variances. 5. Monitor Transactions and Movement -Review CCTV footage for suspicious activity in loading, receiving, and storage areas. -Track movement of high-value items and log user activity in WMS. 6. Train Employees on Ethics and Reporting -Educate staff on company policies, fraud awareness, and whistleblower procedures. -Create a safe and anonymous way to report suspicious behavior. 7. Vendor and Supplier Verification -Work only with vetted suppliers. -Confirm deliveries against official purchase orders and use double verification during receiving. 8. Secure Storage for High-Value Items -Store expensive or high-risk items in locked or monitored sections. -Use tamper-evident seals and RFID tags where possible. 9. Rotate Staff and Enforce Mandatory Leave -Rotate duties periodically to discourage long-term fraud schemes. -Mandatory leave can reveal discrepancies when someone else takes over a role. 10. Investigate All Irregularities -Take any theft, discrepancy, or fraud report seriously and investigate immediately. -Document all incidents and adjust procedures based on findings.

This article highlights a St. Louis federal court indicted 14 North Korean nationals for allegedly using false identities to secure remote IT jobs at U.S. companies and nonprofits. Working through DPRK-controlled firms in China and Russia, the suspects are accused of violating U.S. sanctions and committing crimes such as wire fraud, money laundering, and identity theft. Their actions involved masking their true nationalities and locations to gain unauthorized access and financial benefits. To prevent similar schemes from affecting you businesses, we recommend a multi-layered approach to security, recruitment, and compliance practices. Below are key measures: 1. Enhanced Recruitment and Background Verification - Identity Verification: Implement strict verification procedures, including checking legal identification and performing background and reference checks. Geolocation Monitoring: Use tools to verify candidates’ actual geographic locations. Require in-person interviews for critical roles. - Portfolio Validation: Request verifiable references and cross-check submitted credentials or work samples with previous employers. - Deepfake Detection Tools: Analyze video interviews for signs of deepfake manipulation, such as unnatural facial movements, mismatched audio-visual syncing, or artifacts in the video. - Vendor Assessments: Conduct due diligence on contractors, especially in IT services, to ensure they comply with sanctions and security requirements. 2. Cybersecurity and Fraud Prevention - Access Control: Limit access to sensitive data and systems based on job roles and implement zero-trust security principles. - Network Monitoring: Monitor for suspicious activity, such as access from IPs associated with VPNs or high-risk countries. - Two-Factor Authentication (2FA): Enforce 2FA for all employee accounts to secure logins and prevent unauthorized access. - Device Management: Require company-issued devices with endpoint protection for remote work to prevent external control. - AI and Behavioral Analytics: Monitor employee behavior for anomalies such as unusual working hours, repeated access to restricted data, or large data downloads. 3. Employee Training and Incident Response - Cybersecurity Awareness: Regularly train employees on recognizing phishing, social engineering, and fraud attempts, using simulations to enhance awareness of emerging threats like deepfakes. - Incident Management and Reporting: Develop a clear plan to handle cybersecurity or fraud incidents, including internal investigations and containment protocols. - Cross-Functional Drills and Communication: Conduct company-wide simulations to test response plans and promote a culture of security through leadership-driven initiatives. #Cybersecurity #HumanResources #Deepfake #Recruiting #InsiderThreats

𝗗𝗮𝘆 𝟭𝟬: 𝗣𝗿𝗲𝗽𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗱𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝗽𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗲 We know the cost of response can be 100 times the cost of prevention, but when unprepared, the consequences are astronomical. A key prevention measure is a 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗱𝗲𝗳𝗲𝗻𝘀𝗲 𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗴𝘆 to anticipate and neutralize threats before they cause harm. Many enterprises struggled during crises like 𝗟𝗼𝗴𝟰𝗷 or 𝗠𝗢𝗩𝗘𝗶𝘁 due to limited visibility into their IT estate. Proactive threat management combines 𝗮𝘀𝘀𝗲𝘁 𝘃𝗶𝘀𝗶𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆, 𝘁𝗵𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁 𝗱𝗲𝘁𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻, 𝗶𝗻𝗰𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗽𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗲, and 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗶𝗹𝗶𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗶𝗻𝗳𝗿𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗿𝘂𝗰𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲. Here are few practices to address proactively: 1. 𝗔𝘀𝘀𝗲𝘁 𝗩𝗶𝘀𝗶𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆 Having a strong understanding of your assets and dependencies is foundational to security. Maintain 𝗦𝗕𝗢𝗠𝘀 to track software components and vulnerabilities. Use an updated 𝗖𝗠𝗗𝗕 for hardware, software, and cloud assets. 2. 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗧𝗵𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁 𝗛𝘂𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 Identify vulnerabilities and threats before escalation. • Leverage 𝗦𝗜𝗘𝗠/𝗫𝗗𝗥 for real-time monitoring and log analysis. • Use AI/ML tools to detect anomalies indicative of lateral movement, insider threat, privilege escalations or unusual traffic. • Regularly hunt for unpatched systems leveraging SBOM and threat intel. 3. 𝗕𝘂𝗴 𝗕𝗼𝘂𝗻𝘁𝘆 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗥𝗲𝗱 𝗧𝗲𝗮𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗴 Uncover vulnerabilities before attackers do. • Implement bug bounty programs to identify and remediate exploitable vulnerabilities. • Use red teams to simulate adversary tactics and test defensive responses. • Conduct 𝗽𝘂𝗿𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝘁𝗲𝗮𝗺 exercises to share insights and enhance security controls. 4. 𝗜𝗺𝗺𝘂𝘁𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝗕𝗮𝗰𝗸𝘂𝗽𝘀 Protect data from ransomware and disruptions with robust backups. • Use immutable storage to prevent tampering (e.g., WORM storage). • Maintain offline immutable backups to guard against ransomware. • Regularly test backup restoration for reliability. 5. 𝗧𝗵𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁 𝗜𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗴𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗺𝘀 Stay ahead of adversaries with robust intelligence. • Simulate attack techniques based on known adversaries like Scatter Spider • Share intelligence within industry groups like FS-ISAC to track emerging threats. 6. 𝗦𝗲𝗰𝘂𝗿𝗶𝘁𝘆-𝗙𝗶𝗿𝘀𝘁 𝗖𝘂𝗹𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 Employees are the first line of defense. • Train employees to identify phishing and social engineering. • Adopt a “𝗦𝗲𝗲 𝗦𝗼𝗺𝗲𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴, 𝗦𝗮𝘆 𝗦𝗼𝗺𝗲𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴” approach to foster vigilance. • Provide clear channels for reporting incidents or suspicious activity. Effectively managing 𝗰𝘆𝗯𝗲𝗿 𝗿𝗶𝘀𝗸 requires a 𝗰𝘂𝗹𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗽𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗺𝗶𝘀𝗺 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘃𝗶𝗴𝗶𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲, investment in tools and talent, and alignment with a defense-in-depth strategy. Regular testing, automation, and a culture of continuous improvement are essential to maintaining a strong security posture. #VISA #Cybersecurity #IncidentResponse #PaymentSecurity #12DaysOfCybersecurityChristmas

This past week I was asked by some Philadelphia Police Department Recruits “how do you do it” …. Meaning police work, pertaining to a specific topic..Without question we follow our policies, procedures, and legal obligations. One thought that came to mind in a larger city is that depending where you work there are often strategies and practices that vary. This question brought me back to some work done last year in Central Police Division regarding property crimes. Specifically theft from autos & package thefts. Issue: Seeing an increase in Theft from Auto incidents - despite Directed Patrols into the areas & education campaigns. We had to look a little deeper and different at the issues. The problem was addressed from the Inspector Level to the officer on the street. Sworn & Non-sworn members had input and everyone had a say in what was done, measured & evaluated. Step 1 - Analysts Identified what other crimes the most prolific TFA offenders were also arrested for. That was Package Theft (most a daytime crime). TFA is mostly a night time crime and one hard to stop just through uniform patrol measures. Step 2 - Isolated both crimes and see where they overlap geographically - Same area..(what we thought)… Step 3 - Created an easier mechanism for Package Theft victims to provide doorbell camera video of these incidents - Simply creating a new email address for victims to send us video. Patrol officers provided this email when taking reports. Complainants at the time of a package theft report also sent video via email to us. In many cases video of the crime was sent to us before the officer even came inside to get the report coded Step 4 - Increase deployment both uniform and non-uniform during the day work hours 10am - 5pm (height of package theft times). Based off of report times but more importantly video times! Step 5 - Through technology: video footage was back out to patrol officers within an hour of video being sent to us. Allowing officers to look for the individuals the day of an incident Step 6 - Detective / Patrol coordination for quicker interviews and ID’s of suspects. Overall this increased focus on package theft & video recovery. Resulted in more package theft arrests - a decrease in TFA’s in the overlapping zones. Number one answer to the recruits: coordinate, communicate, develop ideas and work as a team.

I was interviewed on Fox32 Chicago Good Day Chicago about the recent trend of smash and grab crime victimizing businesses. I explained how a business can protect itself through a layered approach with physical security and security technologies working together. Starting on the outside, motion-activated flood lighting should be in place to illuminate the area, individuals, and vehicles. Video surveillance cameras using analytics that trigger an alarm if it detects a person or vehicle, especially in the middle of the night when the business is closed. Also, a speaker can be attached to the camera and announce commands, such as “no trespassing” or “911 is being contacted”. Additional security technologies include contact alarms for doors and windows, glass break sensors for windows, motion detection for interior space, and panic alarms for emergencies. A best practice-based security system links all systems together including intrusion detection devices, video surveillance cameras, and panic alarms. The business could consider improving security by linking all systems together, which would help law enforcement respond more quickly to an alarm. Additional physical security measures include reinforcing exterior doors with a steel anti-kick plates for door jambs, security bars, and dead bolts. Bullet-resistant glass or protective film for exterior windows that prevents glass from shattering, holds broken shards together, strengthens the structural integrity of a window, and/or reduces the likelihood of breakage and flying glass. These materials prevent an intruder from shooting through a window to gain access to a building.  Business owners need to consider the help of a professional security consultant to help implement all of these measures. https://lnkd.in/gcGH3vpq

Residential security for families requires a combination of preventive measures, situational awareness, and practical tools to create a safe and secure environment. Here’s a comprehensive guide tailored to your needs: 1. Physical Security Measures Doors and Windows • Reinforce doors: Use solid-core or steel doors with deadbolt locks and install door jammers or security bars for added strength. • Secure windows: Install window locks, shatter-resistant film, or security bars. Ensure ground-level windows have additional reinforcements. • Peepholes and video doorbells: Install peepholes on all entry doors or a smart doorbell with a camera to monitor visitors without opening the door. Lighting • Exterior lighting: Install motion-sensor lights around entrances, driveways, and dark corners of your property. • Interior lighting: Use smart or timer-based lighting systems to give the impression of occupancy when you’re not home. Locks and Access Control • Smart locks: Opt for keyless entry systems that can track access and allow you to lock/unlock doors remotely. • Restrict spare keys: Avoid hiding keys outside. Use a lockbox or share keys only with trusted individuals. 2. Technology Solutions • Surveillance systems: Invest in cameras covering all entry points, with remote access to live feeds. • Alarm systems: Use a monitored alarm system with panic buttons for emergencies. • Smart home integration: Connect security systems to your smartphone for real-time updates and control. 3. Personal Safety Practices • Control access: Screen service providers, delivery personnel, and visitors before granting entry. • Maintain privacy: Avoid sharing your living location or routine on social media. Use privacy settings and avoid “checking in” at your home. • Vet neighbors: Build rapport with trustworthy neighbors who can alert you to suspicious activity. 4. Emergency Preparedness • Plan escape routes: Familiarize yourself with all exits and practice emergency drills. • Go-bag: Keep a bag with essential items (ID, keys, cash, charger, etc.) in case of evacuation. • Safe room: Identify or create a secure space with a reinforced door and communication tools. 5. Situational Awareness • Stay vigilant: Be aware of your surroundings when entering/exiting your residence. Trust your instincts if something feels off. • Avoid routines: Change patterns to make it harder for potential threats to predict your schedule. • Observe visitors: Be cautious of unexpected deliveries or visitors. Use cameras or intercoms to screen them. 6. Defensive Tools • Personal alarms: Keep a loud alarm or whistle accessible for deterring intruders. • Self-defense training: Consider learning self-defense techniques and keeping non-lethal tools like pepper spray or a taser. Stay vigilant…#security