SIRAS- Free Point of Sale Investigative Tool
Glen Mills
Subject: SIRAS (Nintendo Tracking Investigative Tool) Free to Law Enforcement
-
Curt McKenzie of NESPIN sent this Investigative Link for Investigators tracking Nintendo/Game System Frauds/Thefts.
-
Overview:
SIRAS, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Nintendo, provides a powerful and free investigative tool to authorized law enforcement personnel. The web-based tool allows law enforcement to research transaction records of consumer electronics and other
retail items involved in investigations through the use of unique product serial numbers.
-
Information from SIRAS can include the manufacturer shipping information and retailer point of sale information (including the date, time, and cash register where the transaction occurred).
Retailers and law enforcement can then work together to obtain CCTV video and associated purchase information.
-
Access to SIRAS is web-based and requires a USER ID and PASSWORD. Over 4000 subscribing agencies span North America and include federal, state, county and city police agencies.
Summary
100% Free to Law Enforcement
Easily accessible via the Web
Database contains hundreds of millions of serial number records
Track manufacturer and retailer possession of an item
Information ties sale information to exact date/time/location of purchase
SIRAS tracks products for the nation’s top retailers and product manufacturers
-
A Case Example
Use of SIRAS information has proven useful in hundreds of cases ranging from shoplifting cases, organized retail crime investigations, identity theft rings, and online e-fencing cases. Here is one example of how the information was used to support an investigation:
In a recent case in Washington State, a pair of perpetrators entered various retail outlets to obtain UPC barcode and pricing information of items sitting on the retailers’ shelves. They would then created forged purchase receipts for the same items using their
own receipt printer. The subjects would then re-enter the retail establishment, select the same items from store shelves, place the items in retailers’ bags and leave the store, using the forged purchase receipt as proof of purchase. The stolen items were
later fenced online or returned to the retailer for full value – often on a retailer gift card. One of the subjects was found to have conducted several thousands of dollars of theft and fraud in this way.
Investigators used the information provided by SIRAS to identify two sale transactions where the subjects had purchased Wii™ systems by Nintendo using gift cards received from refund credits as part of the fraud scheme. The SIRAS information identified the
store, time, date, and register in which the transactions occurred. SIRAS was also able to put the investigators in contact with the retailer loss prevention personnel to retrieve additional evidence in the form of transaction journals and CCTV footage. The
subjects were prosecuted and sentenced accordingly. Without the information provided by SIRAS, the case would have been very difficult to prove.
For more information or to become a user please visit www.siras.com/cc/accessRequest/signup.htm or send an email to in...@siras.com