What Is Friendly Fraud?

TABLE OF CONTENTS

    Friendly fraud is not friendly at all. It has grown in recent years, thanks to the rise in e-commerce. Friendly fraud is when consumers pay for a product or service online using their credit card, then contact their credit card issuer to dispute that transaction. This fraud is called “friendly” since a customer will make a claim sounding honest. But in reality, if such fraud occurred in brick-and-mortar shops, it’ll be referred to as shoplifting or theft. Please continue reading to learn more about friendly fraud and how to avoid it from occurring.

    What Does Friendly Fraud Look Like?

    Knowing who your customers are and their purchase habits will help identify friendly fraud and reduce it from occurring. Some of the reasons customers will give when contacting their credit card issuer about friendly fraud include:

    • The product/service was not delivered.
    • The item delivered didn’t match what was described.
    • They returned the product but weren’t refunded.
    • The order was canceled, but the merchant still ships it out.
    • He/she doesn’t recall purchasing that product, so their credit card was compromised.

    Some of these claims might be valid – many customers are honest and solely reporting an actual problem. So differentiating between the two is sometimes a hairy situation.

    Can You Prevent Friendly Fraud?

    No fraud is completely preventable. However, there are some measures merchants can take to limit friendly fraud from occurring. These include:

    • Have shipping and tracking mechanisms in place to prove a customer received their order. This can include a photo of the package at the delivery address or requiring a signature.
    • Provide a clear refund policy in cases where customers claim that the product description didn’t match what they received. Display this information blatantly on your website and make it easy for customers to access it. Ensure the policy states that customers only receive a refund when the product is returned and within a specific timeframe.
    • For clients claiming they returned the product but not refunded, provide tracking details for the return shipment. Incorporate a strong paper trail proving a customer did/didn’t return the product.
    • Collect data about your customers and ensure that it can be accessed easily. This calls for an efficient CRM system that collects order history, delivery dates, customer contact details, etc. The more you know about your customer base, the easier it is to weed out friendly fraud claims.

    Final Thoughts

    Like with most things, knowledge is the important thing to preventing friendly fraud. Creating smart and fair procedures will go a long way to ensure your business is not left with the short end of the stick if cases run rampant. Many innovative payment systems, such as Payment Savvy’s, have robust fraud modules to create a completely secure business system. We like to call it our All-In-Done payment platform. Interested in learning more? Reach out to us today, and we’ll be happy to discuss your needs and create a custom payment acceptance program for your business.

    Responsible for keeping Payment Savvy running like a well-oiled machine, Eli has extensive experience with everything related to technology and financial services. Maintaining back-end operations efficient and productive isn't his only strong suit, Eli is also a key component of our sales team and is in constant pursuit of perfection. In charge of ground-breaking partnerships, he is always on the lookout for the next innovative product offering for our Savvy clientele. Eli's knowledge of the payment processing cycle and critical compliance standards ensure our customer base always has an educated and expert opinion if needed.

    RECENT POSTS:

    Wooden blocks with words 'Recession proof'. Business concept

    What Industries Are Recession Proof?

    By Chad Deatherage | August 7, 2023

    While it is by no means a pleasurable experience, the simple truth of the matter is that recessions are a part of life and something we should accept as an occasional occurrence. We are going to face them once in a while – there is no avoiding that fact. Depending on your perspective (and at…

    A woman holding a debit card with a BIN number on it

    BIN Checker: Understanding Bank Identification Numbers

    By Chad Deatherage | August 3, 2023

    What Are BINs? A Bank Identification Number (BIN) is the first four or six numbers found on any debit or credit card. Essentially, this set of digits specifies the financial institution that issued a payment card. Every BIN number can be checked to prevent fraud and ensure the protection of both merchants and consumers when…

    happy gun shop owner

    Understanding FFL: Types, Application, and Licensing Process

    By Chad Deatherage | July 23, 2023

    The Federal Firearms License (FFL) is a cornerstone for businesses in the flourishing firearms industry. In 2022 alone, a staggering 16.4 million firearms were sold across the United States, underscoring the industry’s robust growth. Furthermore, the U.S. firearm industry’s contribution to the economy is substantial, injecting 28 billion dollars into the economy. This booming industry…