Signs of a possible fraud

Should I process or abort the transaction

[webdevfv]

Hi

I'm reasonably new to ecommerce and have what I feel may be a possible fraud but am not sure what to do.

I currently have my transactions set to deferred as I wanted to make sure possible frauds didn't get through and hit me with big charges and I have what appears could be my first instance.

Customer's characteristics:
AOL email
mobile phone number
billing address different to delivery address
IP numbers on my stats do not match transaction IP number (AOL probably)

What the main issue is though, is that the customer, Jason, first tried to purchase with a woman's debit card - different surname and from billing address A in Town Y.

This transaction was declined by the Acquiring Bank.

Then, about an hour later, Jason tried successfully to use a different card - again a different name from a man at billing address B in Town Y.

The CV2, address, and postcode all match and 3rd Man results say OK but it looks so dodgy to me.

Should I just abort the transaction and forget about it? Or should I contact the customer via email - but say what?

[nonstop]

See if you can match a land line to the billing address and then call it.

[webdevfv]

There's one thing I forgot to mention that struck me first as dodgy. Under special delivery instructions the customer wrote:

Please make sure this gift is discreet, no one else apart from Recipient can know that this is a gift. TOP SECRET!

Hmmm, just added to everything else it gives even more negative points. Basically, they're saying don't try and call me at that address.

[nonstop]

I wouldn't send it

[mikko123]

It's fake. When people use a different credit card number for someone in a different town and it gets declined, then use a new one for another person in another town, it's a sure sign it's fraud. Don't waste your time trying to confirm the order with him.

[Corey Bryant]

You have used your best defense to fraud - your gut. You came to the forum for back-up but in your gut, it is fraud. To you, it feels like fraud, smells like fraud, sounds like fraud.

I would listen to your instincts and kindly let the customer know that you are unable to ship the merchandise.

Of course, there could always be reasons - he is a college student, borrowing a fellow students card buying a gift for hir girlfriend / boyfriend.

We can give you scores of reasons to accept the transaction another scores of reasons to decline it. In the end though, it is your money and your product. That is why your instinct is telling you something is wrong here.

-Corey

[webdevfv]

I aborted the transaction - why take the risk on gaining £10 when I could be hit with a chargeback, refund and pay up for product and packing (time and money).

Thing is, customer got back to me this morning concerning the delivery address. I emailed him that I'd declined the transaction.

It'll be interesting to see the reasons behind the process if he comes back and explains. I'll keep you posted.

[hanuman]

always listen to your guts feelings