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 Pawn Game
This scam involves the waiter gathering coworkers, such as the hostess and kitchen staff, to assist him in providing him guests and food that will let him manipulate the system to steal. The waiter gets profiled customers from the hostess that are likely to order specific items from specific cooks that prepare and will give this food to the waiter without an order placed on the system. The waiter then will write a hand written check and pocket the money. This only works with cash payments and is difficult for the waiter to accomplish because he needs to have a large group of accomplices.

Recommended Aloha system process:

Install a Host Management Package. Automating the host’s seating and reservations process will deter any preferential seating of parties to select waiters. Hosts will not be able to select specific profiled customers to feed to a conspiring waiter for theft.

No food out of the kitchen without an order chit. This is normal and routine order process in most establishments. If a waiter cannot get a food item out of the kitchen without an order being run through the POS system and a kitchen chit being generated, they will not be able to pocket the cash for it. Make as many waiter serviced items coming out of the kitchen/bar require an order chit as possible. For example, even sodas can be poured at the bar by the bartender if needed.

Install surveillance cameras in your establishment. If you have a corrupt employee that is making deals with other employees or guests to steal from you, the best way to catch this non POS related theft would be via camera surveillance. You would not only see a waiter taking food without an order chit and collecting money, but you would also have video footage to provide to the police. Generally, known installed cameras help to keep honest people honest.

Company policy should indicate that handwritten checks are prohibited, unless instructed by management, and grounds for termination. In a case where a waiter accidentally closes a check, a manager can easily re-open that check in Aloha and provide access back to that server. There should be no reason why a waiter would hand write a check without instruction from management.

Utilize Aloha Quick Count. Aloha Quick Count offers a quick and easy way to track menu items on the FOH. You can enter opening counts, closing counts, waste, etc. all from the point of sale terminal. The system will automatically deduct product from quick count as it has been sold giving the establishment an on hand count at the end of the service period. Use quick count on specific items certain kitchen staff are preparing to spot check.1

Utilize Aloha BOH Inventory. Aloha Inventory offers a complete comprehensive way for an establishment to track and manage all products at specific stocking location. Utilizing Aloha Inventory and recipes, you can create a liquor recipe for all the drinks that you carry. If the employees are giving away menu items there will be variances associated.2

1 Reference: Chapter 3 in the Aloha QuickService for store settings / Quick Count
2 Reference: Aloha Inventory Manager’s Guide

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.