Scan scammers beware

SHOPPERS and dodgy employees incorrectly scanning items or stealing goods are being caught by new technology being trialled by retailers across the country.

Retail sources have confirmed to the Gold Coast Bulletin technology is being piloted by retailers nationwide.

The sites being used for testing include supermarkets and stores.

Latest retail figures show shoplifting continues to be a huge problem and costs stores about $9.3 billion a year – or collectively 3 per cent of their total annual turnover.

Using camera and video technology gives a bird’s-eye view of exactly what shoppers are doing at the checkout, from neglecting to scan items, incorrectly scanning goods or mid-tier department “sweethearting”. This is when shop assistants allow friends and family members to get items for free by failing to scan them or alternatively, putting them through as something that costs less.

The technology has been created by US company Stoplift and has been in the testing phase since starting late last year.

Stoplift chief executive officer Malay Kundu said the technology had so far “found a fair amount of theft and loss at both manned and selfcheckouts consistently across various locations in Australia”.

“Our algorithms are analysing that material continuously so it’s able to watch all of that video footage and compare that with transaction data,’’ Mr Kundu said.

The vision is monitored using artificial intelligence to catch out thieves.

Alerts are sent to staff monitoring the self-serve checkouts via a mobile device when customers incorrectly scan items or are not scanning them at all.

Australian Retailers’ Association executive director Russell Zimmerman warned that deceitful shoppers and retail workers should watch out because they would get caught.

“Buyer beware: if you risk it, you are going to get caught and you need to expect the force of the law to come down on you,’’ he said.

“Retailers need to up the ante to ensure they capture everything that they possibly can to eliminate the cost of retail theft in their stores.”

Mr Zimmerman said honest consumers were “paying the price” for retail thieves.

Items commonly stolen included lipsticks, makeup, batteries, razors and baby food.