Inside
The Buffet Scam

Video Surveillance
Attacks Shrink

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The Series
The Buffet Scam

Suggestive Stealing

and
The Scoundrels

Houston…We Have A Problem
and
Putting Them On Ice

Leftovers

Evil Incorporated

The Recycled Check Maneuver

The Verbal Totals Scam

The Handwritten Checks Scam

The "Playing it off" Scam

Friendly Delivery

The Private Reserve

The Pawn Game

Oops! Wrong Check!
and
Our Man In Amsterdam

Extra! Extra! Read All About It!
and
The Potemkin Voucher

The Package Deal
and
The Finishing Touches

The Wagonwheel

The Handwritten Checks Scam
In this scam the waiter would hand write a ticket that contained self-serve items and present that to the customer for payment. The customer would pay and the waiter would pocket the cash since the self-serve items have never been rung into the system. This only works with a cash payment and is highly risky because management and customers could recognize it as invalid receipt.

Recommended Aloha system process:

Waiter performance measures should be set up on the system. Aloha provides the ability for management to monitor server performance through performance measures. Performance measures allow for tracking of sales targets and comparisons against objectives of each measure. You can define up to 99 performance measures. These measures can be easily viewed on the FOH server sales report or checkout report. It would be recommended to configure a “Sales to Guest” or “Sales to Check” performance measures by waiter job code on the Aloha software. This way management can spot check any specific percentage discrepancies that look to be out of range. If a certain waiter is not ringing in sales and is passing hand written checks they will show a low sales percentage in this performance measure. Corrective action and monitoring should take place.1

Managers should routinely visually spot check tables and review corresponding waiter checks for accurate items, including order time of items. Managers can easily access any waiter’s checks from a FOH terminal and review the check under Financial/View Tables. The manager can then make sure that there are appropriate checks for each table. If the waiter has multiple tables open and there are no checks in the system then this waiter should be monitored. He may be hand writing checks, if not, he should be told that when items are ordered they need to be immediately entered into the system.2

Create table signage indicating that if a customer is not provided with a receipt, the meal or complimentary item is on the house. Many establishments post signs such as “If you do not receive a receipt, your meal is on us.” This is done to make sure that cashiers or waiters are ringing in items through the POS system.

Utilize a hostess station that enters the number of customers seated at a table and starts a check. Having a hostess seat open a table through the system will create an open check and guest count that the waiter will have to do something with. Using this process in conjunction with performance measures would show discrepancies in per check/person averages on the system indicating possible waiter fraudulent activity to monitor.

1 Reference: Chapter 4 in the Aloha QuickService & TableService Manuals for Performance Measure configuration.
2 Reference: Chapter 1 in the Aloha TableService Add-Ons Manager Guide for Viewing a Tab or Table.

Excerpted from "How to Burn Down the House: The Infamous Waiter and Bartender's Scam Bible by Two Bourbon Street Waiters" by Peter Francis & R. Chip Deglinkta. © 2003 Promethian Books

Video Surveillance Attacks Shrink
Shrink is a $27 billion retail headache that is getting worse. With every dollar recovered from shrink, the bottom line receives it as profit. Abacus Video Surveillance attacks shrink and improves customer service by offering a combination of innovative solutions that reduce shrink and improve customer service—all in one product.

Abacus Video Surveillance is exciting because it allows video to be captured side-by-side with Aloha transactions. Abacus offers an integrated POS and video solution that joins digital recording with the capturing and data mining of POS transactions. The search tool combines fast and easy search of archived video with the POS operation; each transaction and the accompanying video appear on the same screen. Using up to 36 cameras, data can be scrutinized on up to 60 different items, such as date, time, server, transaction type and amount. Suspicious transactions can be identified for alerts. The system is ideal for franchise operators because numerous locations can be monitored in real-time from any Internet connection.

>>  Works Alone or with Aloha. See specific video events alone or
      side-by-side with Aloha
      transactions.
>>  Quick, easy searches on up to 60 items, such as voids, server
      name, date, time, or tender type.
>>  View video in real time and store up to a month of video for later
      viewing.
>>  View video at home or from any Internet connection
>> 
No monthly fees

Aloha Makes it Easy
Whether it's fine dining or fast casual, Aloha can help you increase sales, control operating costs and build customer loyalty through innovative technology solutions including point of sale, back office, enterprise reporting, gift cards, and loyalty programs. Abacus can design a solution that's just right for you. Call us and get a free quote: (800) 665-9222 or visit us on the web at www.abacuspos.com.

Stay In Touch With Us
From the Aloha Point of Sale system and state-of-the-art Radiant hardware to our 24/7 Customer Solution Center, we’re your total solution provider. Let us show you how we can save you money and give you peace of mind. Just call (800) 665-9222 or visit us on the web at www.abacuspos.com

Abacus. You can count on us.

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    If you have a question or comment about Aloha Tips and Tricks,
    please contact Abacus at
info@abacuspos.com.