by Deena M. Amato-McCoy
ABSTRACT - By arming their front end with biometric arsenals, retailers can fight back against fraudulent check rings an criminals with more devious goals.
As the first anniversary of Sept. 11 approaches, it is important to look at how security has changed in the United States.
Grocery stores may not be top of mind when the government looks for the weak link that terrorists might consider penetrating. But don't be fooled. Some industry observers say the fraudulent check rings ...could be a front for groups with more dastardly goals than the average criminal. According to Lydia del Rossi, president of biometrics provider CrimeBite, these stolen checks could be used to buy drugs and weapons for terrorists.
"At the recent National Retail Federation's Loss Prevention Conference, there were copies of the Al Qaeda handbook that had precise instructions on how to finance activities by counterfeiting personal driver's licenses, other identification means and credit cards," says del Rossi.
To fight back, many industry observers correctly suggest retailers arm their front ends with biometrics arsenals. Previously, biometrics technology...had slow adoption rates due to wary customers.
"In the past, the perception among Americans was that fingerprints are associated with criminals," says Ken Fobes, chairman of Business Strategies Group. "This technology is not heavily used in the checkout lane, but as people overcome that fear, it will be more prevalent."
Customers at Winn-Dixie, Publix, and Fred Myers are already subject to the CrimeBite program, which records customer fingerprints on a two-part invisible chemical capture system.
Before cashing a check or paying by credit card at the front end, customers must press their print onto a square sticker,. An invisible chemical then captures the print. The no-mess process leaves no ink on the customer, but instead produces a blue image of the print on the sticker. To date, retailers using CrimeBite are eliminating fraud by at least 80%, because the process averts would-be thieves.