Catalina Coupons: Employee Theft Or Misunderstanding?

Catalina coupons are a great way for customers to save money, but they also present an opportunity for employee theft. While most cashiers are honest, some have been known to take Catalina coupons from customers or collect unclaimed coupons at the end of their shift to use for personal savings. This is considered theft by many stores, as the coupons are intended for the specific customers who receive them. In some cases, employees have even been charged with theft and computer fraud for creating and using counterfeit Catalina coupons. The line between theft and embezzlement is thin, and employees who misuse Catalina coupons entrusted to them by their employers can find themselves on the wrong side of the law.

Characteristics of Catalina Coupon Fraud

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Catalina coupons are a great way to save money, but they also present an opportunity for theft

Catalina coupons are issued through Catalina Marketing and have been around since the 1990s. They are generated at the register based on a customer's purchase history and can be used to save money on items that don't typically have coupon promotions, such as fresh produce and meat. Catalina coupons can be stacked with other coupons, allowing customers to maximise their savings.

However, Catalina coupons also present an opportunity for theft, particularly by employees. Since the Catalina machine is often positioned so that customers cannot see it, cashiers may take the coupons for themselves instead of handing them to the customer. They can then remove the corresponding amount of cash from their register, resulting in coupon fraud. This type of internal theft can be challenging for store managers to detect and prevent, especially if cashiers are slick about their actions.

In some cases, cashiers may also take advantage of the Catalina machine's malfunctions or technical errors to their benefit. For instance, if a customer is expecting a Catalina coupon but it doesn't print, the cashier may offer to help and then keep the coupon for themselves. Alternatively, they may claim that the coupon didn't print and give the customer a lower price or refund, pocketing the difference.

To prevent Catalina coupon theft, stores can implement various measures. One way is to ensure that cash drawers are handled only by supervisors or bookkeepers, making it more difficult for cashiers to manipulate coupon totals. Additionally, stores can improve the placement of Catalina machines to make them more visible to customers, reducing the chances of theft going unnoticed.

While Catalina coupons can be a great way for customers to save money, it's important for both retailers and shoppers to be aware of the potential for fraud and theft associated with them. By taking preventative measures and remaining vigilant, the benefits of Catalina coupons can be enjoyed without falling victim to dishonest practices.

Employees taking Catalina coupons for personal use is considered theft by many stores

Catalina coupons are a great way to save money for customers, but they are a headache for store managers and a potential opportunity for employee theft. Catalina coupons are printed out of a Catalina machine at participating stores, usually located next to the register. These coupons are deals that require a certain dollar amount or quantity of products to be purchased. For example, a customer might need to buy five participating Kraft products to get a $5 coupon that can be used on their next purchase.

Catalina coupons can be a source of employee theft in two main ways. Firstly, cashiers can take the Catalina coupons that customers leave behind for their own personal use. Secondly, cashiers can allow the Catalina machine to print coupons, but instead of handing the customer their coupons, they "forget" to give them to the customer and take them home for their own personal savings. In one case, a Meijer loss prevention officer investigated suspected employee misuse of pharmacy coupons. He tracked the coupons recently used by employees to determine if they had been "earned" by the employees themselves or taken from shoppers. Several employees were found not to have earned the coupons and were fired.

In another case, two employees of a Walgreens in New Orleans were arrested, and a third suspect is being sought, in a counterfeit Catalina coupon scam that allegedly netted them more than $29,000. The employees were accused of working with an unidentified customer to scan fake Catalina coupons that offered $15 off any purchase.

Employee theft or embezzlement is a serious offense that can have severe consequences. To be convicted of embezzlement or employee theft, the prosecution must prove that the employee had intent to take the property and use it for their own benefit. The property must also have been legally possessed by the employee or they must have been given authority to access it.

To be convicted of theft by embezzlement, fraudulent behaviour or conduct must be proven

Catalina coupons can be a great way for customers to save money. However, they can also be a source of fraud and theft by employees. While some sources disagree on how common employee theft is, it is a serious issue that can cost companies millions. In the case of Catalina coupons, employees may commit theft by taking the printed coupons for themselves instead of giving them to the customer. They can then use these coupons for their own savings. Some retailers consider this to be theft, as the coupons are intended for the specific customer who receives them.

Embezzlement is often committed by individuals in positions of trust, such as financial advisors or executives of large companies. It can also occur on a smaller scale, such as a store clerk pocketing cash from a register. Embezzlement can involve multiple fraudulent acts, such as overbilling customers, double billing, or creating false bills and receipts to disguise the transfer of funds. It can also include pocketing company cash, destroying employee records, or transferring funds to personal accounts.

To prove embezzlement, the prosecution must demonstrate that the defendant was in a position of trust and intentionally took the assets for themselves. This could involve showing that the defendant had access to the organisation's funds and intentionally converted them for personal use. For example, an employee might cash a customer's cheque and keep the funds for themselves, or make unauthorised electronic payments to themselves. In the case of Catalina coupons, the prosecution would need to prove that the employee intentionally took the coupons for their own use, knowing that they were intended for the customer.

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Retailers have different policies on whether unused Catalina coupons can be taken by other customers

Catalina coupons are issued by Catalina Marketing and are dispensed from a machine located next to the cash register in participating stores. They are usually triggered when a customer buys certain products or a combination of products. For example, buying a package of Pampers diapers may trigger a Catalina coupon for a certain amount off Huggies diapers. Catalina coupons are sought after by extreme couponers as they can be used to purchase anything from the store on the next visit, making them almost as good as cash.

While Catalina coupons are a great way for customers to save money, they can also be a source of fraud and theft. One common scam involves cashiers taking the Catalina coupons that customers have left behind and using them for their own personal gain. This can involve the cashier taking the coupons without the customer's knowledge, or the cashier may "forget" to give the coupons to the customer. The cashier can then take the coupons home or put them in their register and pocket the corresponding amount of cash, resulting in coupon fraud.

Retailers have different policies regarding the handling of unused Catalina coupons. Some cashiers may give the unused coupons to the next customer in line, throw them away, take them for their own use, or put them in the register and pocket the cash value. While some retailers may allow employees to take unused Catalina coupons, others may consider it theft. It is important for employees to be aware of their store's policies and the potential consequences of misusing Catalina coupons.

To prevent coupon fraud, some stores have implemented measures such as having supervisors or bookkeepers handle the cash drawers at the end of the shift or using cumulative drawers that can only be accessed by authorized personnel. Additionally, customers can play a role in preventing fraud by being vigilant and reporting any suspicious activity to store management. It is also recommended that customers contact Catalina Marketing or the store's customer service if they encounter issues with their Catalina coupons, rather than taking out their frustration on store employees.

Some employees have been charged with theft and computer fraud for using counterfeit Catalina coupons

Catalina coupons are a great way to save money when shopping. They are printed out of the Catalina machine at participating stores and offer deals that require a certain dollar amount or quantity of products to be purchased. For example, buying five participating Kraft products may get you a $5 Catalina coupon that can be used on your next purchase.

However, Catalina coupons have also been associated with theft and fraud. In some cases, employees have been charged with theft and computer fraud for using counterfeit Catalina coupons. In 2018, two employees of a suburban New Orleans Walgreens were arrested, and a third suspect was sought, in a counterfeit Catalina coupon scam that allegedly earned them over $29,000. The employees, Kewanta Young and Fanny Kelley, were accused of working with an unidentified customer to scan fake Catalina coupons offering $15 off any purchase. In one transaction, investigators found that Young and the customer scanned hundreds of counterfeit coupons and pocketed more than $10,000 in gift cards. Young was charged with theft of $25,000 or more and five counts of computer fraud.

In another case, a California woman, Tong Lor, also known as "Mandy Carr," was arrested and charged with fraudulently selling over $700,000 worth of counterfeit Catalina coupons. From 2017 to 2021, Lor was involved in a large-scale operation to produce and sell fraudulent Catalina coupons using the U.S. Postal Service.

These cases highlight the potential for abuse and fraud associated with Catalina coupons. While they can offer significant savings for customers, they can also be targets for theft and counterfeiting by employees and fraudsters.

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