In an unusual case, a Best Buy employee claims that a hacking group blackmailed him into allowing customers to shoplift over 40 PlayStation 5s from his store in Savannah, Georgia.
The 20-year-old employee, Dorian Allen, allegedly let over a dozen shoppers walk out with merchandise in December, according to local television station WJCL. Store video footage shows Allen allowing the patrons to leave. But he told law enforcement “that he was being blackmailed by a hacker group,” according to a report from the Savannah Police Department.
“When asked what they were blackmailing him with, Mr. Allen stated that he was being blackmailed with nude photographs of himself that he posted on Instagram,” the report adds.
In addition, the hackers emailed him physical descriptions and outfits of the customers he was supposed to let walk out with the merchandise. However, it’s possible Allen fabricated the hacking threat as an excuse. The police report notes: “When asked who the hacker group was, Mr. Allen was unable to provide a name.”
“Mr. Allen stated that the hacker group would send emails to his personal email address; however, Mr. Allen was unable to provide his email address,” the report also says. In some cases, Allen even helped the customers load the goods into their cars.
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Authorities apparently didn’t buy the story; Allen has been charged with “theft by taking,” WJCL reports. Shoplifters stole about $40,734 worth of goods, including 44 PS5 consoles, over a dozen Meta Quest virtual reality headsets, and three Asus ROG Ally gaming handhelds.
Best Buy didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment. But local police say they’ve identified the shoplifters and issued warrants for their arrests after they were recorded by Best Buy surveillance cameras.
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About Our Expert
Michael Kan
Senior Reporter
Experience
I’ve been a journalist for over 15 years. I got my start as a schools and cities reporter in Kansas City and joined PCMag in 2017, where I cover satellite internet services, cybersecurity, PC hardware, and more. I’m currently based in San Francisco, but previously spent over five years in China, covering the country’s technology sector.
Since 2020, I’ve covered the launch and explosive growth of SpaceX’s Starlink satellite internet service, writing 600+ stories on availability and feature launches, but also the regulatory battles over the expansion of satellite constellations, fights with rival providers like AST SpaceMobile and Amazon, and the effort to expand into satellite-based mobile service. I’ve combed through FCC filings for the latest news and driven to remote corners of California to test Starlink’s cellular service.
I also cover cyber threats, from ransomware gangs to the emergence of AI-based malware. Earlier this year, the FTC forced Avast to pay consumers $16.5 million for secretly harvesting and selling their personal information to third-party clients, as revealed in my joint investigation with Motherboard.
I also cover the PC graphics card market. Pandemic-era shortages led me to camp out in front of a Best Buy to get an RTX 3000. I’m now following how President Trump’s tariffs will affect the industry. I’m always eager to learn more, so please jump in the comments with feedback and send me tips.
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