Forum Moderators: buckworks
I am receiving orders from an individual in Ghana, and I just became aware of credit-card fraud. So I wrote this customer, who sounds legitimate, and I told him that we now accept only wire-transfer or western-union from international customers. He wrote back, and told me that wire-transfer is fine with him. I am still worried. Is wire transfer 100% secure? Can he get the money back? Are they any loopholes, things to look after? Please help me. Thank you very much.
T.I.
I would even tell your customer there will be a delay.
Fraudsters are always panicky and want stuff shipped right away because they know its only a matter of time before the fraud is discovered.
[edited by: Rugles at 7:56 pm (utc) on Nov. 13, 2007]
"Never, ever, do business of any kind with any country which has green in its flag".
All this discussion about whether or not it is a good idea to ship to Ghana, Nigeria etc. is redundant. Just imagine that these countries do not exist, trash any communications or orders originating from them, and live happily ever after.
"Never, ever, do business of any kind with any country which has green in its flag".
Poor Ireland.
I received an order from GHANA last week-wants it shipped to a PO Box Address, and wants to wire money.
I called the customer and told him to send me a check-he declined. Said that he would go and sho somewhere else.
I have no problem with that, I would rather be safe than sorry.
I did call my bank to ask them if they can assure me that a fraud would not occur, and they could not give me any assurance.
They said when you issue a check to someone, they have all the info they need to take money out of your account.
I'm sorry, but if someone in Ghana or Nigeria gets access to my bank info/company name and address and takes the money out, I know I'll never be getting it back.
If that were true, there would be no such thing as checking accounts. I think you must have misheard your banker.
"Never, ever, do business of any kind with any country which has green in its flag"
I think this is too bold. :)
The colour green on a flag represents: Hope; joy; loyalty to a cause or leader; the country; land and fruitfulness.
Green - Nature's Colour [bbc.co.uk]
Many countries have had their flags way before online fraud began, color is if anything, not a very great way of keeping your online site secure.
Companies you can pay this way have signed up for that service. Not just anyone can receive payment that way.
For that matter, whenever I buy something from abroad, my bank calls me up and asks me if it's valid.
In you case, if you see WT is originated from Ghana, you can ask your bank if there is a mighty bank in Ghana that can put enough pressure on them to get money back.
If this is not Ghana, you can call either the originating bank and ask them to verify payment with the account holder, or (if this is a company), call them directly and verfy.
In either way, you can warn the buyer that shipment will be hold up to XX days after payment is confirmed, and use this time to investigate. You can always return the money back to the originating account without shipping the goods, if something looks suspicious.
It all depends what money are on stake. For the first time, you can agree to a partial order to be paid and shipped.
It should not be suspitious to you that the order is originated from Ghana -- there are businesses being done all around the world.
I'd say suspicious is that Ghanian does not take any measurements to protect himself -- say to have agreement with your bank that he transfers the money, but the bank releases the money to you only after you present the valid credentials that the goods are actually shipped (don't know the valid name of this banking service, but this is certainly possible).
Btw, there are banks over the world that won't reverse any transaction, even if it is being claimed as fradulent by the originating side. Only court can strip you out of your belongings, as money on your account are, once they are there. And even if the bank is pressed hard enough, why would you wait? Transfer to your home country.
Do a little research for further business with Ghana :-)
