StuWhite - 9:54 pm on Nov 2, 2007 (gmt 0)

I don't understand the benefit of phoning them. I used to do it, but found it difficult to tell over the phone whether or not they are legitimate. It isn't as if the criminals just give themselves up as soon as you call them.

I used to bring up a satellite photo or map of their billing address and then ask them something about a nearby landmark. If they didn't know, for example, the nearest railway station to their house, chances are they don't actually live there. In the end though I decided that was too intrusive for legitimate customers.

Now I just cancel any order which looks suspect (usually a few each day), sending them an email saying that we couldn't verify their card details. Legitimate customers will almost always call and question why we've cancelled the order - at which point we just apologise and reinstate it. Fraudsters very rarely call to do that. They just assume the card they are using has been cancelled.