BJ's Cashier Caught In $66,000 Coupon Fraud Scheme | Bodycam Footage

[00:00:00]For six months, nobody at BJ's noticed anything unusual. Hundreds of transactions went through the register.

[00:00:06]Customers walked out with carts full of merchandise. Everything appeared legitimate, but investigators say a cashier and a club member had discovered a loophole that allowed them to slash hundreds of dollars off purchases with the push of a button. By the time the scheme was uncovered, BJ's claimed it had lost more than $66,000.

[00:00:28]Ready? Pick up.

[00:00:30]>> How you doing?

[00:00:31]>> Hello.

[00:00:31]>> Hi. How are you?

[00:00:34]>> So, I have a question for you.

[00:00:36]>> So, we tried to get a detective here today, but they sent an officer. So, we have a $66,000.

[00:00:43]>> If it has to go through an officer, I have to take the initial report and if a sergeant looks at the case and feels it needs to go to a detective, then >> it'll be a sign.

[00:00:52]>> So, I have a question for you. We have all the data, but we're going to interview the team member tomorrow because we need her to admit collusion because she's working with a specific member that we want to file charges for, but we need to talk to the team member first.

[00:01:06]>> She's in tomorrow, but I want to coordinate it where >> Yeah. The only thing I've had a case like this where they tried to coordinate it with me specifically and we got so busy that day that we had like a shooting over here that there was no way I can be there and they interviewed that person without me. So, I I don't know how you guys It's just hard to say yes, I can be here at a certain time or no, I can't. That's the only That's the only thing I have with, you know, the only issue I have with that. But here's my question.

[00:01:33]The person's not here now. No.

[00:01:35]>> Well, that's why we wanted you like we have everything. Although the $66,000 is an accumulation since November. We only have archive video starting March 3rd. But my question, it's it's a complete felony already. Like that surpassed that. even what we have on video versus the total case file. The total case value is like 67,000. Um but we can prove like probably half of that because we only have archive till March.

[00:01:59]>> Yeah. I mean um well, you know, I have to obviously look at the video and if you know everything adds up and it goes to the state attorney and they feel like this is a solid enough case, you know, go through >> you guys would arrest if she admits already tomorrow anyway.

[00:02:12]>> Well, the the thing is like I have to be able to read her her Miranda words. Like I just can't.

[00:02:17]>> No, no, I get that all. But I'm just saying we have all the paper. Like this is a significant >> I'm going to tell you I might not arrest it might not even be me, but I might not arrest that person right away and I might file charges >> really for that much.

[00:02:31]>> But like I said, I have to take the initial report and if this if we can't prove beyond a reasonable doubt that it was this person, a detective probably has to take a a deeper dive into it because I can only do so much.

[00:02:42]>> So what do you recommend? because I am looking for an arrest tomorrow. I mean I >> that's not really that's not up to you.

[00:02:48]>> No, but >> I mean yeah you you know BJ's is the the victim and you guys want to press charges and I have to look at the video.

[00:02:54]I have to look at all the evidence and write the initial report and the sergeant has to look at it and then we go from there.

[00:03:01]>> Okay. Would you recommend the like look at the information now or call you guys tomorrow cuz I have to >> just the only thing is like you see how long it took me to get it kind of took me a while to get here today. Um, number one raising canes is is insane over there. So, it took me 20 minutes just to get in here. The only thing about waiting tomorrow is if she's here and we can't get here.

[00:03:21]>> Wow.

[00:03:22]>> That's that's the only thing I worry about cuz it happened to me with Walmart. He was there and they they didn't read him his Miranda rights, you know, and he wrote some sort of like weird letter um that was very vague. So, I don't know what, you know, it went to the state attorney. I just don't know what's going to happen with it because I wasn't there.

[00:03:38]>> So, you have to be a part of the interview. I mean, I have to be able to read her her Miranda rights. Yeah. And and hear her have her confess it to me on body cam.

[00:03:46]>> Oh, okay. Here's the thing. She's here at 9:00.

[00:03:49]>> I I I'm anticipating you guys aren't as crazy during the morning.

[00:03:54]>> I I don't know. I can't make I can do the initial report and you know, I can we can try to be here tomorrow for the interview or you could it it's really it's up to you. It's whatever you guys want to do or feel comfortable with.

[00:04:06]>> I mean, well, I'll have everything lined up for you.

[00:04:08]>> Yeah, I would need copies. Listen, that's we have all we have all of it. We have all the receipts. We have all the videos. We have what we have and I can break it down for you when it started.

[00:04:18]What >> the amount of show you all the receipts have similar >> readings, right? There is a specific number that's been coming here and going to a specific cashier. He goes particularly to selfch checkout and she's discounting all his purchases. So, keep in mind this is a $1,200 sale.

[00:04:42]>> Mhm.

[00:04:42]>> And the member is paying for that amount.

[00:04:46]>> Mhm.

[00:04:47]>> So, all these coupons, you see these overrides, they're overridden by that specific cashier, and he only goes to her. She's We've looked at his membership. We looked at his sales. All of these are manually entered. So, she's discounting that.

[00:05:00]>> So, she doesn't need a manager to take that kind of amount of money.

[00:05:04]>> She doesn't because she's a selfch checkckout attendant. those cards to override them at selfch checkckout she has access to >> because BJ should look at that policy.

[00:05:12]>> Yeah. Okay. So, how do we So, how do you know it's that specific cashier at that at that specific moment?

[00:05:18]>> We we pulled all the videos for all these >> Yep.

[00:05:24]>> And then who's the member? Do you have their information?

[00:05:26]>> Yes.

[00:05:27]>> Yes, I do.

[00:05:28]>> Yeah. This will probably honestly would probably have to go to a detective. So, um it's just the amount of money. But even if she when she if you're there if you if you're there or somebody an officer is there and she admits to it then at that point can you still make an arrest if you do them >> as long as everything I mean yeah probably >> yeah so again >> but I can't promise you someone can be here when you want us to be here.

[00:05:51]>> No I I get that.

[00:05:54]>> So this is the most recent one which is yesterday >> four.

[00:05:58]>> Who am I looking for?

[00:05:59]>> So that's that's the cashier.

[00:06:01]>> Which lady?

[00:06:02]>> This one.

[00:06:07]And that's the member of the guy in the blue.

[00:06:10]>> Correct.

[00:06:10]>> Why is your thing all of a sudden?

[00:06:16]>> Full screen.

[00:06:18]>> Just just leave it there. It's blank.

[00:06:26]>> Why is it pixelating all? Maybe I need to play it on holding for membership.

[00:06:33]Hello. Hello.

[00:06:36]>> Is there a room that >> um alone?

[00:06:40]>> Yeah.

[00:06:40]>> Yeah.

[00:06:40]>> I'll just detect police department. How are you?

[00:06:48]My partner.

[00:06:51]>> So before we get started, I'm just going to read you your I'm required to warn you before you make any statement that you have the following constitutional rights. You have the right to remain silent.

[00:07:02]Understand those. Questions over any of them.

[00:07:15]>> It's not working.

[00:07:18]>> Thank you.

[00:07:21]>> And you're employed here at VJS, correct?

[00:07:23]>> Yes.

[00:07:24]>> How long have you been working here?

[00:07:25]>> Almost two years.

[00:07:26]>> Okay. And what is your position you primarily done here? I do cashing and then I also do sub check out.

[00:07:31]>> Okay. And what does that entail?

[00:07:33]>> Subch checkout is just like um when they want to do their heard >> what are your responsibilities with that?

[00:07:40]>> Um just customers and headed over to >> Okay. Do you know why we're here today?

[00:07:46]>> Yes.

[00:07:46]>> Okay.

[00:07:47]>> Can in your own words explain to me why we're here.

[00:07:50]>> I'm basically going to be charged for fraud or assisting with fraud.

[00:07:54]>> Why do you feel that? Why do you think that? Um because I helped someone basically steal from DJs.

[00:08:01]>> Sure. Go ahead.

[00:08:02]>> Okay. Can you explain to me in greater detail how this is like how long has this been going on?

[00:08:07]>> I would say it started last year around Novemberish. The guy approached him and asked me if I could input his coupons and I said okay. I didn't think it would be a reoccurring thing but it ended up being and personally I didn't know how to approach my managers to ask for help to sure this customer was selling, but >> Okay. So, you said back in November.

[00:08:30]>> Yeah. I mean, around that time. I'm not 100% sure what day.

[00:08:34]>> Okay. 2022.

[00:08:35]>> Yes.

[00:08:36]>> And where were you at the the person?

[00:08:39]What's his name?

[00:08:39]>> I don't even know his name.

[00:08:41]>> You don't know his name?

[00:08:42]>> No.

[00:08:42]>> What does he look like?

[00:08:43]>> White male.

[00:08:45]>> Say around maybe his >> Okay.

[00:08:54]Florida.

[00:09:01]>> And where were you at in the store first?

[00:09:06]>> Okay. And how does this happen? How does he come up to you? What?

[00:09:09]>> Well, at first like this, my coupons are not going through like I need help.

[00:09:14]Okay. So, I just did them because that's what I'm used to. like if someone has a problem with the coupon. I make sure the coupon they have the actual physical item and then I put input the coupon.

[00:09:22]>> And so what happened with this instance >> that the first one back in November >> um I just inputed his coupons and made sure he had the correct items and he just told me the prices of what how many coupons he had.

[00:09:33]>> So he told you the prices?

[00:09:35]>> Yes.

[00:09:35]>> So what type of coupons were you like were they paper coupons you were scanning in or how did you do it? Um well for self check out when we do over like physical overrides anything over $10 we have to like make sure that they have the coupon we stand our override card and put it in.

[00:09:52]>> And how many coupons is a person allowed to use?

[00:09:55]>> I mean I I was told they can use as long as they have the physical item and the amount that you can put in.

[00:10:00]>> Okay. So as long as they have the item they can use how many coupons per item?

[00:10:05]>> Yes. It's one item per it's one coupon per item.

[00:10:08]>> Okay. And so what? So he would just tell you how many to put in?

[00:10:13]>> He would tell me like how much to put in like $90, $50.

[00:10:16]>> Okay.

[00:10:18]>> Did you verify that all the product was there and he had each coupon for each product?

[00:10:22]>> I would just I would look just for the c the product and the coupon. I didn't see how many coupons it was given.

[00:10:29]>> You didn't verify?

[00:10:30]>> No.

[00:10:30]>> Okay. Did you know like that what you were doing was >> I didn't I just didn't know how to approach.

[00:10:40]>> Did So how did he know when you were working to come in?

[00:10:43]>> He would sometimes he would walk in the front door and sometimes I'd be at the front door. So then he would wait until I was back at my by where I was. If not, then he would be waiting by the back.

[00:10:53]>> Okay. Did he ever ask you for your schedule to know what days of the weeks you were here?

[00:10:57]>> No.

[00:10:58]>> Okay. Did you ever communicate with him outside of here?

[00:11:00]>> No, I don't. I didn't know who he was with.

[00:11:02]>> Okay. You never got curious and looked him up in your membership. You never looked at his membership card to see who he was?

[00:11:08]>> Okay. How many times do you think you've done this? Like how often does this occur?

[00:11:13]>> Um I mean when I'm working it's like at least two or three times.

[00:11:17]>> Two or three times >> a day. A day.

[00:11:19]>> Like when I'm working.

[00:11:20]>> So he'll come in three times a day.

[00:11:22]>> Yes. He'll come at like different separate times.

[00:11:25]>> Okay. And what does he say to you when you're doing this? He just says, "Hello, I'm ready for my coupon."

[00:11:31]>> And he's never once like offered you anything in exchange.

[00:11:35]>> Never did he ever give you any type of gift in exchange, just saying, "Hey, thanks for always helping me out." Did he ever? I mean, I'm trying to understand like how much how did like know she would be willing to do this each and every time.

[00:11:54]I guess I just never really questioned him about it. So, I just he always just came up to me.

[00:11:59]>> And what kind of products is he buying?

[00:12:01]>> Medicine, like medical, like like allergy medicine, anything like that.

[00:12:06]>> And is it always the same type of products?

[00:12:08]>> Yes.

[00:12:08]>> Does he say what he's doing with these products?

[00:12:10]>> I think he resells them. I'm pretty sure he does.

[00:12:13]>> What makes you think that?

[00:12:14]>> Um, I mean, sometimes he when I'm on a register, he does taxes them and sometimes taxes them, they resell the product that they buy. Okay. If not, it's for his own personal use for like his store.

[00:12:26]>> And tax exempt. What does he do to do tax exempt?

[00:12:29]>> Um, it's just that he doesn't have to pay tax on stuff that he buys.

[00:12:32]>> But does he show you something to do that?

[00:12:34]>> No, it's already on his card >> for his membership card.

[00:12:37]>> Yeah, his membership card.

[00:12:38]>> Okay. And what do you have to do to get taxes?

[00:12:40]>> I I override it. I have to override the tax.

[00:12:44]>> And do you override?

[00:12:45]>> Yes, sometimes, but not all the time.

[00:12:47]>> Okay. But he shows you on his card that he's texted. Well, when you scan it, it will show you wrong that.

[00:12:54]>> Okay. And that what causes that to pop up is what I'm trying to understand is how is it entered in the system that he >> Yes. In his system underneath his membership, there's like a certain certificate that they have to bring in that they have to put in for him to have taxes.

[00:13:06]>> Did he ever tell you he was reselling this stuff?

[00:13:09]>> Not that I know of. No.

[00:13:10]>> You recall him telling you what he did with the products? No.

[00:13:14]>> And what did you think when he was coming in two, three times a day?

[00:13:17]>> I just That's what I thought like he was reselling. So always cuz I've seen I've seen people here multiple times 24 the day all the time.

[00:13:24]>> Do you know like he never asked you what days you work?

[00:13:28]>> No.

[00:13:28]>> Okay.

[00:13:29]>> But I have literally like a consistent schedule. So I'm here.

[00:13:32]>> You work the same days each week. Okay.

[00:13:34]And what days are those?

[00:13:35]>> Saturday. Saturday. Tuesday. Wednesday.

[00:13:38]Thursday.

[00:13:39]>> Okay.

[00:13:39]>> I mean Sunday. Sunday. Tuesday. I'm off Saturday.

[00:13:44]>> So walk me through exactly what took place today.

[00:13:47]>> Today?

[00:13:48]>> Yeah. This morning. Um, I mean, he came in, I know he went to membership to return something and then maybe 20 minutes later he came back on my line and I just did what I do.

[00:13:59]>> Okay.

[00:14:01]>> Step by step like I don't understand any of it. He um I scan his card and then I scan all of his items and then when I'm done with that, he just tells me the prices of his coupons that he has and then I >> So you don't verify >> that the amount he's telling you matches what the product.

[00:14:19]>> Okay. And so how much was his total today?

[00:14:25]>> Like $40.

[00:14:26]>> Okay. But how much was it before the override >> G box?

[00:14:31]something.

[00:14:32]>> Okay. Did that seem a little bit >> It does. Yes.

[00:14:36]>> Okay. I mean, did you realize it was wrong?

[00:14:38]>> Yes.

[00:14:38]>> Okay. And does he know it's wrong? He has he ever said anything to you about it?

[00:14:43]>> No.

[00:14:43]>> He's never made any acknowledgement about it.

[00:14:47]>> And so you say the amounts he does is usually around $1,000 or does it vary or how?

[00:14:55]>> Yeah, it's around,000.

[00:14:57]So, if he comes in three times a day, it's each time it's around $1,000.

[00:15:01]>> Okay. Do you know where he's getting the coupons?

[00:15:04]>> I mean, the coupons that he has are mostly BJ's coupons from like the coupon book.

[00:15:10]>> Okay. And what does that mean if they're BJ's coupons?

[00:15:12]>> Like, it's from the corporation. The corporation like gives out the coupon.

[00:15:16]>> And can it can you use that many coupons?

[00:15:20]>> Um, when you scan them, no. If you >> if you scan them, it will limit to you to like how many items you got. Like if he has three items and he tries to scan four coupons from that fourth coupon.

[00:15:30]>> And what happens then? So say you try to scan the fourth. What do you have to do to make if he wanted to input that?

[00:15:36]>> I have to um just put it in manually.

[00:15:38]>> And how do you do that?

[00:15:39]>> Um if he's on selfch checkout, then I just go all the way to the end and I scan it as I scan my override card >> and then I put in the price and then >> Okay.

[00:15:49]>> It will come off as a coupon.

[00:15:50]>> And so like today when you do you did an override, right? And the amount you put in, he told you the amount to put in.

[00:15:57]>> Okay. All right. Um, >> but I know you said when you told him that you were just scared. You didn't know what to do. He never threatened you or anything. You just >> I just felt uncomfortable.

[00:16:08]>> You felt uncomfortable. But when he came to your register, you pretty much know what you were going to do.

[00:16:13]>> Yeah. Cuz it's just like a routine.

[00:16:15]>> It's routine. Okay. today when you were he was at your register and he's passing you the the coupons. Were you just putting the numbers in this time? He wasn't telling you today though, right?

[00:16:26]Like you just knew what how much to take off of the >> No, he tells me the like how many like he'll tell me like $90.

[00:16:33]>> So what is he doing today on the video?

[00:16:35]He's >> Yeah. Like the stacks of >> And then what is he saying? 90.

[00:16:39]>> Yes.

[00:16:40]>> Tell me tell me how he does.

[00:16:41]>> Yeah, that's what he does. She just sacks them and he goes 90 24 or whatever.

[00:16:47]>> And what were the coupons for? Like a dollar off?

[00:16:50]>> Yeah, a dollar. Sometimes they're $7, $8.

[00:16:54]>> Okay. But he was telling you today what to put in.

[00:16:57]>> Yeah.

[00:16:57]>> Okay.

[00:16:59]>> And does he tell you every time what to put in?

[00:17:00]>> Yes.

[00:17:01]>> Do you take the collect the coupons?

[00:17:04]>> Yeah. Um I mean when at checkout, they throw them in the box and then if it's at a register, I put them in the pouch.

[00:17:11]>> Okay. Have you ever told anybody about this? Like a friend, family, any coworker about it?

[00:17:17]>> No. And what does the policy say for something like this here?

[00:17:21]>> Right.

[00:17:22]>> Is there a policy about the coupons and the putting manufacturing what you can and cannot do?

[00:17:27]>> I mean, all is I know is it's just one item. One coupon.

[00:17:32]>> And so >> the reason to continue doing it or that you kept doing it since November, what was that? You don't understand.

[00:17:41]>> I didn't really have it. It's just I didn't know how to approach my managers about it.

[00:17:45]>> Okay.

[00:17:46]>> Like I mean if you saw him coming to the register, did you not?

[00:17:50]>> I mean sometimes when he would come in, I would try to make myself busy so I wouldn't have to.

[00:17:56]>> Okay.

[00:17:58]>> And what what did you think was going to happen if you went through?

[00:18:01]>> I would get fired for school.

[00:18:07]>> Can I ask you one more question?

[00:18:09]Honestly, truthfully, since we already know you've been doing it with this guy, have you done it with anybody else?

[00:18:14]Family, friends, >> co-workers? No. Do you know if anybody else has been doing this? Not that cuz I'm trying to understand how you came up how like how you came up with doing this so many at a time. I don't know if you saw someone else doing it or you just >> did Did he indicate to you to do this?

[00:18:32]Did he tell you how to do this? Did he have an idea that you could do this? No, it's like when you when you work selfch checkout, you know what to do for certain things for like coupons like you know you have to override it so you have to have your card to do.

[00:18:46]>> So the very first time you met him he approached you and asked you to help him with his coupons.

[00:18:51]>> Did he go into detail about that? What that meant?

[00:18:53]>> So you just automatically >> started giving him the discounts.

[00:18:59]>> Mhm.

[00:19:00]>> All right.

[00:19:00]>> Did you ever think that this would come back? Yeah, I knew it was going to come back eventually, but we still couldn't say no.

[00:19:08]>> Well, what made you say yes the first time? What made you do it the first time?

[00:19:11]>> Um, the first time I thought he was just a regular customer that he just needed help with coupons. That's all.

[00:19:16]>> But why give him the extra the first time?

[00:19:19]>> If you did the overrides on the first transaction, the first time you did it where you gave him, did he tell you the amounts the first time?

[00:19:25]>> Yes. He always tells me that.

[00:19:27]>> Okay. So, how did he know you were?

[00:19:31]Honestly, I mean, >> what made you do I mean, if you didn't, that's the very first time. There's no You could have easily said no. What made you do that? What made you feel the need to do that?

[00:19:45]>> Um, maybe just to get him out. It was probably like a busy day and I just wanted everyone to be out.

[00:19:53]>> That's all that I have. Um, raise your right hand. Swear affirm that everything is true.

[00:19:58]>> Yes.

[00:19:58]>> Okay.

[00:19:58]>> Turn around for me. Yep. Following the investigation, the cashier was charged with fraud and grand theft. Court records show she ultimately received 3 years of probation and was ordered to pay approximately $63,000 in restitution.

[00:20:14]Cases like this highlight how seemingly small actions repeated over time can lead to major financial crimes and serious legal consequences. Thank you for watching.