A Retailer's Guide To Credit Card Fraud Prevention

Identity theft is one of the hottest topics around. But who are the real victims here? Of course consumers are affected the most. While consumers are usually not liable for fraudulent charges, it can take years to come back from identity theft, and it's no small task. Consumer victims may get hit with higher interest rates or even be denied credit. Credit card companies would have you believe they are the biggest victims. To a certain extent, that's true. If you're looking at pure numbers, they are losing the most money. But credit card companies are recouping their losses through higher interest rates and fees. And they also pass the buck to retailers who accept fraudulent credit cards. Credit card chargebacks can completely wipe out your profits. What can you do to protect your business and your profits?

The first thing your cashiers should look at is the front of the card. Most credit cards have holographic images on the front. Cashiers should also check to make sure the embossed numbers haven't been altered. Fraudsters will sometimes use a clothes iron to remove some of the numbers and then emboss new numbers on the card. Then they'll deface the magnetic strip so it won't swipe. That forces the cashier to manually enter the numbers on the card. If the card won't swipe for any reason, make sure your cashier gets an impression of the card, and that the impression is legible. This will serve as proof that the card was physically present in case there is a chargeback. If your register does not automatically call for verification, make sure the cashier does.

The next thing a cashier should do is check the back of the card. The signature strip should have multiple colors and/or the name of the credit card company. Fraudsters have been known to remove a signature strip or cover it with Wite Out® and sign the cardholder's name. Speaking of signatures, cashiers should always match the signature on the back of the card with the customer's signature on the charge slip. This can be done while the customer is signing, to prevent the appearance of distrust. Now if the signatures don't match, it is perfectly acceptable to ask for a picture ID. What if there's no signature? Technically, the credit card is not valid unless it is signed. It says so right on the back of the card. Most credit card companies suggest that you require a picture ID rather than denying the transaction. If a customer doesn't want to show his ID, then you have a decision to make. Are you willing to risk a chargeback? If it's a large transaction, it's probably not a good idea. You may decide to let smaller transactions slide in the interest of customer satisfaction. The last thing a cashier should do before handing the card back is to make sure that the card number on the receipt matches the number on the card. It's not too difficult to reprogram a magnetic strip with a stolen credit card number.

Most of your credit card transactions will go smoothly. If a customer hasn't signed the credit card, make it less awkward by suggesting she sign the card and also put “Check For ID” on the signature strip. Explain that if she loses the card, someone could sign her name and then the signatures would match. And explain that you are trying to protect her. Most customers will appreciate this.

Protecting your business from chargebacks is very simple. Checking the front and back of the card and verifying signature only takes a few seconds. Make it an expectation for your employees, and follow up with them to make sure they are doing their part. Involve your customers by providing tips to help them prevent fraud. Then you can enjoy your profits without the fear of chargebacks.