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Finally, SAGE payment
processing partner Merchant
Focus shares some helpful
recommendations to better
identify suspicious cards and
prevent fraudulent orders.
1 Check that the “ship to”
and “bill to” addresses
are the same.
2 If the name on a card is
different from the person
placing the order, ask to speak
to the person on the card to
verbally confirm the order.
3 Ask for a signature upon
delivery of products.
4 Ask for a front and back
copy of the client’s driver’s
license and credit card.
5 Use a credit card
authorization form
requiring a signature.
6 Require Address
Verification System (AVS)
and Card Verification
Value (CVV) matches.
What To Do
If You’re A Victim
If you do fall victim to a
scammer, there are several steps
you should take.
After notifying your bank,
credit card company, credit
reporting agencies and any other
necessary service providers,
report the scam to the FTC at
www.ftccomplaintassistant.gov
and report identity theft at www.
consumer.ftc.gov/identity-theft.
Next, alert PPAI at
Sharing your
experience will help reduce
scams for all members.
You can also stay up-to-date
on the latest scams at www.usa.
gov/scams-and-frauds and www.
consumer.ftc.gov/scam-alerts.
Finally, take steps to educate
yourself and your staff. Copy
and post the tips sheet on
page 49 to keep the red flags
top of mind for everyone.
Scammers are a threat that will
never go away, but with vigilance
and knowledge of some simple
checks, you can pull a fast one
of your own—and leave the
scammers out to dry.
Tara Mibus is a marketing communications coordinator for SAGE, where she blogs and writes other fun copy
(because all copy is fun copy). She believes that owl puns are good puns and has no egrets.
While it may be
difficult to identify
scammers after
the deed, let
alone prosecute
them, there are
some consistent
giveaways that
can tip you off
to a potential
scambefore you
become a victim.