Ohio woman’s multi-state retail fraud scheme created $266,699 in fake store credit
Authorities say an Ohio woman orchestrated a multi-state retail fraud scheme that generated more than $266,000 in fraudulent store credit. Investigators allege the suspect exploited retail return systems to create fake credits that could then be used for purchases or resold for profit. The activity spanned several states and multiple retail locations before investigators tied the transactions together. Police say the case highlights how organized fraud schemes are increasingly targeting retail return policies.
Two charged in 71 counts of organized retail theft totaling $160k
Two women are facing charges after authorities linked them to a 71 retail thefts across three South Florida counties. Investigators say the suspects targeted multiple stores in Miami-Dade, Broward, and Palm Beach, allegedly stealing merchandise during coordinated shoplifting incidents. Law enforcement believes the thefts were part of a broader pattern of organized retail crime activity in the region. The case remains under investigation as officials examine whether additional incidents are connected.
Retail Executive Pleads Guilty in $300 Million Fraud
A fashion executive has pleaded guilty to orchestrating a massive $300 million fraud scheme that misled investors about the company’s performance and financial health. Prosecutors say the executive falsified revenue figures and business operations to attract significant investment. The case highlights growing scrutiny around startup valuations and investor protections within the fashion and retail industries. The founder now faces potential prison time and financial penalties when sentencing occurs.
Former Amazon LP Manager arrested after stealing $11,000 worth of phones, smartwatches
A former Amazon loss prevention manager has been arrested after investigators say he stole phones and smartwatches from the company. Authorities allege the suspect used his position and knowledge of internal systems to take high-value electronics without detection. The thefts were eventually discovered during an internal investigation that triggered a law enforcement response. The case underscores the risks retailers face from insider theft, even within departments tasked with preventing it.
Why retailers must secure transactional emails to combat scam threats
Retailers are being warned to strengthen the security of transactional emails as scammers increasingly exploit order confirmations, shipping notices, and other customer communications. Cybercriminals are mimicking legitimate retailer emails to trick consumers into revealing personal information or clicking malicious links. Experts say stronger authentication protocols and email security measures can help reduce the risk of phishing attacks tied to retail transactions. As online shopping continues to grow, protecting these communication channels has become a critical part of retail cybersecurity.
You really know your stuff.
Do people know that when you talk?
Amber Bradley
Editor-in-Chief | TalkLPnews
[email protected]
I want you to think about the last time you sat through a presentation and thought, "this person really knows what they're talking about." Now think about why you felt that way. Was it the data on their slides? Probably not. It was how they carried themselves. The eye contact. The voice. The way they paused and let a point land before moving on. That feeling you had about them was their executive presence, and most of us have never been taught how to build it.
We recently hosted a TalkLPnews webinar with John Vautier from Vautier Communications, a business that's been coaching communication skills since 2004. John broke down executive presence into something I found refreshing: it's a skill you can practice, not some magical quality you're born with. And once he started explaining the specific physical and vocal habits that make someone look confident (or nervous, or disengaged), I kept catching myself going, "oh... I do that."
Here's what stuck with me from the session.
You have two skill sets. You're probably only developing one of them.
Every professional has two competencies: your functional skills (the job you were hired to do) and your ability to communicate those skills to others. Most of us spend our entire careers sharpening the first one. We get better at investigations, at analytics, at managing cases and budgets. But that second competency, how we actually come across when we present, when we're in meetings, when we're making the case for our department's value, that one gets almost no attention.
And as you move up in your career, that second skill set becomes the one that separates you.
Your body and your voice are saying things you didn't plan to say
John walked through seven specific skills that make up your executive presence: eye contact, hand gestures, and posture on the physical side, then volume, inflection, pace, and non-words (your "ums" and "uhs") on the vocal side.
He got specific. For example, instead of scanning a room with your eyes darting everywhere (which looks nervous), he teaches something called "focus," where you deliver a thought to one person, pause, then shift to someone else. On Zoom, that means talking to your camera lens, not looking at the gallery of faces on your screen. He even mentioned putting a sticky note with a smiley face next to your camera as a reminder. Simple, but I guarantee most of us have never thought about it.
John says most people only have a "one-to-one" voice, that comfortable 4-to-6 range on a 1-to-10 scale. But when you're presenting to a group, you need to push to a 7 or 8. Not yelling. Just out of your comfort zone enough that it changes everything else: your gestures come alive, your inflection improves, your pace slows down naturally, and your filler words drop off. He made a point I keep thinking about: if you're struggling with what to do with your hands, you might just be speaking too softly. Turn the volume up and your body follows.
Nervous? Good. Call it something else.
The nervousness section was my favorite part of the webinar. John played a clip of Simon Sinek talking about how Olympic athletes respond when journalists ask if they're nervous. Every single time: "No, I'm excited." And Sinek's point is that nervousness and excitement produce the exact same physical response: racing heart, sweaty palms, visualizing what's coming. The only difference is the story you tell yourself about it. Sinek tested this himself during turbulence on a flight, said "this is exciting" out loud, and it actually worked. He used the same reframe before speaking to 3,000 chiefs of police during the height of police brutality tensions. Same body sensations, completely different mental state.
Be a tour guide, not a lecturer
John closed with something that I think applies well beyond public speaking. He said when you present, think of yourself as a tour guide. Your number one job? Don't lose the audience along the way. Make the content about them, not about you. Sound like you actually care about what you're saying (because if you don't sound interested, why would they be?). And speak like a human being, not a corporate robot. He specifically called out the trap of using "$20 Scrabble words" when simpler language would land better. Meet your audience where they are, not where your vocabulary lets you show off.
Go watch the recording
I'm only scratching the surface here. John covered virtual-specific tips, how to use pauses to eliminate filler words, why you should never memorize a presentation, the psychology behind why audiences root for you to succeed, and a lot more. The full recording is available here and I'd encourage anyone who presents, leads meetings, or is gunning for that next role to watch it..
Check out this cheat sheet that’s a “Do This / Don’t Do That” on presenting.
Woman accused of shoplifting more than $7,000 in merchandise from Highlands Ranch Target taken into custody
The Douglas County Sheriff’s Office (DCSO) said deputies have arrested a suspect accused of stealing more than $7,000 in merchandise from a Highlands Ranch Target.
Deputies said they responded to a theft-in-progress on February 18 at the Target after reports of a shoplifter hiding items in a suitcase.
According to deputies, the suspect was recognized by Asset Protection as someone who had allegedly stolen from the same store multiple times since December 2025.
Deputies said they waited outside until the suspect passed all points of sale and exited the store to confront her.
Walgreens workers will wear bodycams in some NYC stores but shoppers don’t want to be pharma seen
Walgreens will equip employees with body cameras in an apparent first in the city — but “Big Brother” weary New Yorkers say they don’t want to be pharma seen.
The pharmacy store giant — which also owns Duane Reade — kicked off a pilot program it said is aimed at promoting the “safety of both customers and team members.
But shoppers said the Orwellian tech is the latest thing to transform a trip to the corner store into a visit to a “war zone” after years of businesses taking extreme measures to combat rampant shoplifting including locking up even basic merchandise behind plexiglass.
Cashier accused of stealing nearly $8,000 from Walmart
A Schuylkill County man has been charged with stealing nearly $8,000 from the Walmart store near Hamburg while working there as a cashier late last year, authorities said.
Allen L.B. Kelley, 18, of the 900 block of Port Carbon Street in Mechanicsville, was released after arraignment Wednesday night before District Judge Colleen Dugan Schearer in Reading Central Court. He faces a charge of theft by unlawful taking and is awaiting a preliminary hearing.
Tilden Township police filed the charge following an investigation prompted by Walmart security, which provided surveillance footage allegedly showing Kelley pocketing money during 11 work shifts.
Scammers were no match for these employees
Several U.S. Postal Service employees are being recognized for stepping in to stop scam attempts targeting customers.
In multiple cases, employees noticed suspicious transactions such as large money orders, envelopes of cash, or unusual payment requests and alerted supervisors or postal inspectors. Their quick actions helped prevent victims, many of them elderly, from losing thousands of dollars to fraud schemes including sweepstakes scams and cryptocurrency payment requests.
The efforts are being highlighted during National Consumer Protection Week as examples of how frontline employees can play a critical role in stopping scams before money is lost.
Walmart heroes, law enforcement awarded for saving lives
Eleven deputies and four citizens were recognized for saving lives in 2025.
Grand Traverse County Sheriff Michael Shea, with Jail Administrator Captain Jimmy Argyle and Field Services Captain Brandon Brinks, presented the honors Thursday during the 2025 Annual Awards Ceremony.
The Life Saving Awards highlighted five separate incidents in 2025 when the actions of a sheriff’s deputy or sergeant or a citizen saved someone’s life. The event honored 16 deputies and officers acknowledged by citizens and 31 acknowledged by supervisors, 17 merit awards, years of service milestones for 21 employees, and more.
Costco Considers Using Potential Tariff Refunds to Lower Prices for Members
Costco says it may lower prices for members if the company receives refunds from tariffs that were recently struck down by the U.S. Supreme Court.
Executives explained that while it is still unclear whether refunds will actually be issued or how much they might total, the retailer plans to return any recovered value to customers through lower prices or improved value. The potential refunds stem from legal challenges by companies that paid tariffs imposed under earlier trade policies.
Costco also noted it is continuing to manage tariff pressures by adjusting sourcing, strengthening its Kirkland private label brand, and optimizing its global supply chain.
The Director of Loss Prevention role in Mattoon, Illinois is responsible for leading the company’s overall loss prevention, safety, and compliance programs across multiple locations. The position oversees district loss prevention supervisors and surveillance teams while partnering closely with store operations, distribution, and corporate support teams to reduce shrink and ensure policy compliance. Key responsibilities include managing investigations, analyzing shrink and inventory trends, reviewing surveillance footage, and helping drive inventory control and security strategies throughout the organization. The role typically requires multi-unit loss prevention experience and strong analytical and leadership skills.
AI Implementation: Cost Barrier or Competitive Advantage?
AI adoption is becoming far more accessible than many businesses assume. While costs vary depending on complexity, many modern AI solutions can be implemented through scalable platforms or targeted tools rather than expensive custom builds. In many cases, organizations can start small with focused applications that deliver measurable value before expanding to broader use cases. When implemented strategically, AI often reduces operational costs, improves efficiency, and helps teams make faster, more informed decisions. The key is identifying practical problems AI can solve and deploying solutions that align with both budget and business priorities.
Austin police release body camera, surveillance video from deadly Sixth Street mass shooting
The Austin Police Department released new body camera, surveillance video and 911 phone calls Thursday from Sunday’s deadly mass shooting on Sixth Street that left four people dead, including the suspected gunman.
KSAT has decided to only show part of a clip of one of the released videos. A warning to our viewers this video is graphic and difficult to watch.
Police said 19 people were shot during the early morning attack outside Buford’s Backyard Beer Garden on West Sixth Street.
Three people died at the scene, including the suspected shooter. Another victim died from their injuries on Monday. Two people remain hospitalized, including one in critical condition.
Former operators of Sun Fresh Market sue Kansas City, claim city ignored issues at shopping center
The former operators of the Sun Fresh Market in the Linwood Shopping Center at 31st and Prospect are suing the Kansas City government, their landlord.
The suit claims the city ignored issues like pervasive shoplifting, violence, drugs, and even a naked woman running through the store and knocking items off the shelves.
The seven-count petition for damages states the city "failed to implement any substantial or sustained measures to improve security at the shopping center" and failed to maintain the grocery store in a "first-class manner" as promised in the agreement.
"If the city has the ability to provide the resources to keep the store safe, why is that not happening?"
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