r it. I was not certain whether the bank official would be cooperative and provide the information on the account, however.

Fortunately, the bank representative provided necessary information about the status of the credit cards. Unfortunately, the bank representative’s news was quite alarming: The two credit cards presented were stolen!

This business owner then transformed into a detective, simply trying to find out who this person actually was lest he try to victimize others with credit card fraud in th

There is a small, yet palpable inherent risk in accepting credit cards. Aside from chargebacks, there always exists a possibility that a given credit card is stolen or presented without any authorization to use from the card holder. Even veteran merchants, processing for decades, can recount incidents where they have sent out product, subsequently learning that they have been victimized by credit card fraud.

One day, I received a phone call from one of our retail merchants who sells furniture. She explained that she received a credit card from a so-called customer that was declined. This customer then presented a different credit card with the same result: transaction declined. The owner’s intuitive feeling was that “something was not right” – the customer may simply be over-extended, surpassing his credit card limits, or simply trying to engage in an act of deception.

The business owner leaned toward the perspective that the customer may be involved in shenanigans when he told her to ship the furniture to Romania (next day, no less) although the billing address was in the United States. Before she ran a third card through the credit card terminal, she called me, seeking my advice. While I like to give people the benefit of the doubt, her description of the series of events fomented a feeling of suspicion within me as well.

At the time of our conversation, the customer asked for his card back and said he wanted to look down a few more aisles and examine the merchandise. But the business owner had the two previous credit card numbers, including the expiration date, and the customer’s name appearing on the card. I told her that I would call MasterCard to investigate, providing them with the information that the business owner gave to me.

In less than two minutes, I had the name of the card holder’s bank and their telephone number. I advised her to call the bank and inquire about the status of the credit cards. Moreover, I told her to have her Visa/MasterCard merchant account identification number as a bank representative may ask for it. I was not certain whether the bank official would be cooperative and provide the information on the account, however.

Fortunately, the bank representative provided necessary information about the status of the credit cards. Unfortunately, the bank representative’s news was quite alarming: The two credit cards presented were stolen!

This business owner then transformed into a detective, simply trying to find out who this person actually was lest he try to victimize others with credit card fraud in the

t she received a credit card from a so-called customer that was declined. This customer then presented a different credit card with the same result: transaction declined. The owner’s intuitive feeling was that “something was not right” – the customer may simply be over-extended, surpassing his credit card limits, or simply trying to engage in an act of deception.

The business owner leaned toward the perspective that the customer may be involved in shenanigans when he told her to ship the furniture to Romania (next day, no less) although the billing address was in the United States. Before she ran a third card through the credit card terminal, she called me, seeking my advice. While I like to give people the benefit of the doubt, her description of the series of events fomented a feeling of suspicion within me as well.

At the time of our conversation, the customer asked for his card back and said he wanted to look down a few more aisles and examine the merchandise. But the business owner had the two previous credit card numbers, including the expiration date, and the customer’s name appearing on the card. I told her that I would call MasterCard to investigate, providing them with the information that the business owner gave to me.

In less than two minutes, I had the name of the card holder’s bank and their telephone number. I advised her to call the bank and inquire about the status of the credit cards. Moreover, I told her to have her Visa/MasterCard merchant account identification number as a bank representative may ask for it. I was not certain whether the bank official would be cooperative and provide the information on the account, however.

Fortunately, the bank representative provided necessary information about the status of the credit cards. Unfortunately, the bank representative’s news was quite alarming: The two credit cards presented were stolen!

This business owner then transformed into a detective, simply trying to find out who this person actually was lest he try to victimize others with credit card fraud in th

xt day, no less) although the billing address was in the United States. Before she ran a third card through the credit card terminal, she called me, seeking my advice. While I like to give people the benefit of the doubt, her description of the series of events fomented a feeling of suspicion within me as well.

At the time of our conversation, the customer asked for his card back and said he wanted to look down a few more aisles and examine the merchandise. But the business owner had the two previous credit card numbers, including the expiration date, and the customer’s name appearing on the card. I told her that I would call MasterCard to investigate, providing them with the information that the business owner gave to me.

In less than two minutes, I had the name of the card holder’s bank and their telephone number. I advised her to call the bank and inquire about the status of the credit cards. Moreover, I told her to have her Visa/MasterCard merchant account identification number as a bank representative may ask for it. I was not certain whether the bank official would be cooperative and provide the information on the account, however.

Fortunately, the bank representative provided necessary information about the status of the credit cards. Unfortunately, the bank representative’s news was quite alarming: The two credit cards presented were stolen!

This business owner then transformed into a detective, simply trying to find out who this person actually was lest he try to victimize others with credit card fraud in th

d numbers, including the expiration date, and the customer’s name appearing on the card. I told her that I would call MasterCard to investigate, providing them with the information that the business owner gave to me.

In less than two minutes, I had the name of the card holder’s bank and their telephone number. I advised her to call the bank and inquire about the status of the credit cards. Moreover, I told her to have her Visa/MasterCard merchant account identification number as a bank representative may ask for it. I was not certain whether the bank official would be cooperative and provide the information on the account, however.

Fortunately, the bank representative provided necessary information about the status of the credit cards. Unfortunately, the bank representative’s news was quite alarming: The two credit cards presented were stolen!

This business owner then transformed into a detective, simply trying to find out who this person actually was lest he try to victimize others with credit card fraud in th

r it. I was not certain whether the bank official would be cooperative and provide the information on the account, however.

Fortunately, the bank representative provided necessary information about the status of the credit cards. Unfortunately, the bank representative’s news was quite alarming: The two credit cards presented were stolen!

This business owner then transformed into a detective, simply trying to find out who this person actually was lest he try to victimize others with credit card fraud in the future. She told him that for furniture shipped overseas, she would need to see several pieces of personal identification. This criminal quickly left the store upon this request, refusing to comply. I wish I could report a happy ending (i.e., the thief got caught) but at least this merchant was spared, using caution and good old common sense to avoid credit card fraud.

As one might surmise, Internet merchants are even more at risk for credit card fraud. It appears advisable, whenever possible, to call the card issuing bank of the customer to verify that the card is not reported lost or stolen. Again, not every bank will disclose such information but many will.

The extra time and effort in this type of due diligence effort appears well worth it. International orders particularly need to be scrutinized. Indeed, as the truism goes, “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.”