RESTAURANT FRAUD DETECTION APPARATUS AND METHOD
A restaurant fraud detection apparatus includes one or more cameras, point-of-sale (POS) terminals, and a backend server. The cameras are disposed capture one or more images of a patron within a retail establishment. The POS terminals are coupled to the cameras, where a physical payment method is provided by the patron and entered into one of the POS terminals, and where one or more of the POS terminals receives the images and transmits a request over a network for recognition of the patron. The backend server is configured to receive the request, to access loyalty program data comprising a stored payment method that corresponds to the physical payment method, and to transmit an alert to the POS terminals that indicates the patron is not recognized and that use of the physical payment method may be fraudulent because the stored payment method is associated with a different patron.
1 . A restaurant fraud detection apparatus, comprising:
one or more cameras disposed within a retail establishment, configured to capture one or more images of a patron within said retail establishment;
point-of-sale (POS) terminals, operably coupled to said one or more cameras, wherein a physical payment method is provided by said patron and entered into one of said POS terminals, and wherein one or more of said POS terminals receives said one or more images, and transmits a request over a network for recognition of said patron; and
a backend server, disposed other than where said POS terminals are disposed, operably coupled to said POS terminals via said network, configured to receive said request, to access loyalty program data comprising a stored payment method that corresponds to said physical payment method, and to transmit an alert to said POS terminals that indicates said patron is not recognized and that use of said physical payment method may be fraudulent because said stored payment method is associated with a different patron.
2 . The apparatus as recited in claim 1 , wherein said loyalty program data further comprises patron name, patron image, and an order history for said different patron.
3 . The apparatus as recited in claim 2 , wherein wait staff at said one of said POS terminals are alerted to request additional identification data from said patron in order to authorize or decline a charge using said physical payment method.
4 . The apparatus as recited in claim 1 , wherein a first subset of said POS terminals operably connects to said network via one or more Wi-Fi access points disposed within said retail establishment.
5 . The apparatus as recited in claim 4 , wherein said first subset of said POS terminals comprises handheld tablet computers, each comprising one of said one or more cameras.
6 . The apparatus as recited in claim 4 , wherein a second subset of said POS terminals operably connects to said network via a wired connection disposed within said retail establishment.
7 . The apparatus as recited in claim 4 , wherein said second subset of said POS terminals comprises mounted tablet computers, each comprising one of said one or more cameras.
8 . A restaurant fraud detection apparatus, comprising:
one or more cameras disposed within a retail establishment, configured to capture one or more images of a patron within said retail establishment;
point-of-sale (POS) terminals, operably coupled to said one or more cameras, wherein a physical payment method is provided by said patron and entered into one of said POS terminals, and wherein one or more of said POS terminals receives said one or more images, and transmits a request over a network for recognition of said patron; and
a backend server, disposed other than where said POS terminals are disposed, operably coupled to said POS terminals via said network, configured to receive said request, to access loyalty program data comprising a stored payment method that corresponds to said physical payment method, and to transmit an alert to said POS terminals that indicates said patron is not recognized and that use of said physical payment method may be fraudulent because said stored payment method is associated with a different patron, said backend server comprising:
a payment processor, configured to access said stored payment method that corresponds to said different patron.
9 . The apparatus as recited in claim 8 , wherein said loyalty program data further comprises patron name, patron image, and an order history for said different patron.
10 . The apparatus as recited in claim 9 , wherein wait staff at said one of said POS terminals are alerted to request additional identification data from said patron in order to authorize or decline a charge using said physical payment method.
11 . The apparatus as recited in claim 8 , wherein a first subset of said POS terminals operably connects to said network via one or more Wi-Fi access points disposed within said retail establishment.
12 . The apparatus as recited in claim 11 , wherein said first subset of said POS terminals comprises handheld tablet computers, each comprising one of said one or more cameras.
13 . The apparatus as recited in claim 11 , wherein a second subset of said POS terminals operably connects to said network via a wired connection disposed within said retail establishment.
14 . The apparatus as recited in claim 13 , wherein said second subset of said POS terminals comprises mounted tablet computers, each comprising one of said one or more cameras.
15 . A restaurant fraud detection method, comprising:
via one or more cameras disposed within a retail establishment, capturing one or more images of a patron within the retail establishment;
via one of a plurality of point-of-sale (POS) terminals, receiving the one or more images, and transmitting a request over a network for recognition of the patron, wherein a physical payment method is provided by the patron and is entered into the one of the plurality of POS terminals; and
via a backend server, disposed other than where the plurality of POS terminals is disposed and operably coupled to the plurality of POS terminals via the network, receiving the request, accessing loyalty program data comprising a stored payment method that corresponds to the physical payment method, and transmitting an alert to the POS terminals that indicates the patron is not recognized and that use of the physical payment method may be fraudulent because the stored payment method is associated with a different patron.
16 . The method as recited in claim 15 , wherein the loyalty program data comprises patron name, patron image, and an order history for the different patron.
17 . The method as recited in claim 16 , wherein wait staff at the one of the POS terminals are alerted to request additional identification data from the patron in order to authorize or decline a charge using the physical payment method.
18 . The method as recited in claim 15 , wherein a first subset of the plurality of POS terminals operably connects to the network via one or more Wi-Fi access points disposed within the first retail establishment.
19 . The method as recited in claim 18 , wherein the first subset of the POS terminals comprises handheld tablet computers, each comprising one of the one or more cameras.
20 . The method as recited in claim 18 , wherein a second subset of the POS terminals operably connects to the network via a wired connection disposed within the first retail establishment, and wherein the second subset of the POS terminals comprises mounted tablet computers, each comprising one of the one or more cameras.