The Toronto Police have revealed a wave of organized thefts targeting electronic point of sale (POS) systems in local stores and restaurants, resulting in significant losses within seconds.

According to police reports reviewed by CP24, thieves are resorting to deceiving employees and distracting them before accessing payment devices, then making instant financial transfers to illicit cards or accounts.

The Toronto Police spokesperson stated in a statement on Thursday that investigators have documented several similar cases, where suspects were able to steal thousands of dollars in each incident, noting that gangs are specifically targeting small and medium businesses that do not rely on strong authentication systems or multi-layered security controls.

The police added that part of the criminal method relies on using malware or social engineering techniques to access management options on the devices, allowing for temporary control and money transfers.

Authorities advise store owners to review their device settings, activate administrative restrictions and strong passwords, train employees to spot suspicious activities, in addition to monitoring any attempts to change system settings during working hours.

The police confirmed that investigations are ongoing to identify those involved and recover the stolen funds.