Fraud Prevention - Your Due Diligence
Your mail is here, and in it is a blue envelope from your Merchant Processor informing you that you’ve got a chargeback from a fraudulent order.
Emotions run the gamut, and you are justifiably angry that someone has stolen from you.
Here’s some tips to keep it from happening again.
BEFORE YOUR SHIP - ALWAYS:
1. Verify - Call the customer. Bad phone number = Red Flag
2. Verify - Email the customer. No reply = Another Red Flag
3. Zip Code Matches AVS, but not the Address = Yes, Another Red Flag
4. Billing Address is a Match, but Shipping Address is Different = Red Flag
If you have a suspect order and any of the above criteria comes into play, you need to stop and DON’T CHARGE THE CARD until you complete further verification.
In many cases the “Fraudsters” will communicate with you and try to get you to complete their order.
A good method to verify a customer you are worried about, but with otherwise good address and contact info is to charge a low, odd amount (like .76 cents) and have the “Customer” tell you the amount of the charge and in that way you know that they have access to the highest levels of the account.
Feel free to contact us at 323-482-1251 for further ways to combat fraud, verify or identify suspect orders, and to learn how to take action to apprehend those that commit fraud against you.
Written by Bob Bryant
Interchange Merchant Services
http://www.interchangepricing.com
Never a Charge to Make a Friend!
