For Food & Beverage (F&B) business owners, cashier integrity is of utmost importance. Cashiers stand on the front line—handling payments, recording transactions, and ensuring financial reports remain accurate.
In many F&B establishments, owners place their highest trust in cashiers, believing they are the most reliable employees since they handle money daily. However, without a robust control system, the cashier’s position can become the most vulnerable point for internal fraud.
Common Fraud Schemes to Watch Out For
Cashier fraud isn’t always grand in scale. Often, it begins with something seemingly minor but can lead to significant losses in profit.
Here are some common fraudulent tactics frequently found in F&B operations:
Case 1: Transaction Cancellation After Cash Payment
A restaurant owner once shared this experience online:
“Sometimes, employees can become our biggest liability. They know our system’s weaknesses better than anyone else.”
In this instance, the perpetrator used a transaction cancellation trick.
Here’s how it works:
- The cashier prints an official-looking bill for the customer.
- The customer pays in cash as stated on the bill.
- However, the cashier never presses the “Pay” button on the POS system.
- Once the customer leaves, the cashier cancels the transaction in the system.
- The cash payment goes directly into the cashier’s pocket.
Example:
A transaction totaling Rp442,200 is canceled in the system, even though the payment was received in full.
Imagine this happening two or three times a day—the losses could easily reach millions of rupiah per month.
Prevention Tips:
- Regularly review POS reports for canceled or voided transactions.
- Require supervisor or owner approval for every cancellation.
- Minimize cash payments and encourage digital transactions (QRIS, debit cards, e-wallets).
- Use a POS system that records who canceled a transaction and when.
Case 2: Fake Transaction Cancellations — “Customer Changed Their Mind”
Some cashiers cancel transactions claiming that “the customer changed their order,” when in fact the payment has already been collected and pocketed.
For example, a customer pays Rp25,000 in cash for a coffee order. The cashier processes it, then cancels it after the customer leaves. The transaction vanishes from the daily report, yet the money remains in the cashier’s drawer.
Warning Signs:
- Frequent cancellations at specific hours.
- Sales figures drop, but inventory decreases as usual.
- Physical stock doesn’t match the system records.
Case 3: Bill Tampering — Deleting Items After Payment
Another prevalent issue is “bill trimming,” where the cashier reduces the total bill amount after the customer has paid.
How it works:
- A customer pays Rp200,000 for four plates of fried rice.
- After the customer leaves, the cashier reopens the transaction and deletes two items worth Rp100,000.
- The system records only Rp100,000, while the remaining Rp100,000 is pocketed.
This type of fraud often goes unnoticed because the report data appears “normal.”
Prevention Tips:
- Use a POS system that locks transactions once payment is confirmed.
- Routinely check daily sales and raw material usage reports.
If inventory drops but sales don’t rise, it’s a clear red flag.
Case 4: Fake Discounts and Promotions — “Phantom Discounts”
Another frequent form of manipulation involves fictitious discounts.
The cashier pretends to apply a 30% discount, while the customer actually pays the full price. The fraudulent discount value then becomes the cashier’s profit.
Be alert if you notice:
- Large, unapproved discounts not tied to official promotions.
- High discount rates in reports but stable profit margins.
Tip:
If discount figures look excessive or inconsistent between shifts, investigate immediately—it may signal internal fraud.
Impact of Cashier Fraud in F&B Businesses
Even small acts of dishonesty can cause serious consequences, such as:
- Direct financial losses from unrecorded cash.
- Unexplained discrepancies in inventory.
- Inaccurate and misleading financial reports.
- Erosion of trust within the team and higher employee turnover.
Solution: Use a POS System with Strict Controls and Audit Trails
With IREAP POS PRO, you can effectively prevent fraud risks through advanced control features and comprehensive reporting tools, including:
- ✅ Detailed void/cancellation reports with user identity and timestamps.
- ✅ Customizable employee access levels (cashier, supervisor, manager, admin).
- ✅ Real-time online reports accessible anytime, anywhere.
- ✅ Complete transaction activity logs including price edits, discounts, and refunds.
With these safeguards, business owners can rest easy—no money goes missing without a trace.
Conclusion
Fraud in the F&B industry is not new, yet many business owners remain unaware of how easily it can occur.
The key isn’t merely trust—it’s having a system that makes manipulation impossible.
Use IREAP POS PRO to ensure every transaction is recorded accurately, auditable, and secure from potential fraud.
Try IREAP POS PRO Free for 14 Days!
Monitor cancellations, bill tampering, and cashier activities automatically.
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