Web Hosting Talk : Web Hosting Main Forums : Reseller Hosting : Detecting Fraud/Spammers

[Dacsoft]

I have done a search on WHT concerning how to detect and handle fraud and spammers when providing hosting. I did find a lot of help, but couldn't find a dedicated thread to the topic.

How about some suggestions on how new hosting sites can detect and prevent against fraud and spammers. I am sure many people would like suggestions and tips on protecting yourself.

thanks,
Duane

[idologicJeff]

Some thoughts:

Check the IP and confirm that it matches the persons address info. This won't always be true, however its a good "red flag".

Also don't accept signups from free hotmail yahoo accounts that can't provide another offsite address.

Don't accept unverified paypal.

Check if the clients domain exists (whois lookup) and match it to the billing info.

Finally, call the client if you have questions. Long distance is cheaper than a charge back. [Also, this helps to develop your reputation for being a responsive company.]

Cheers
Jeff

[Dacsoft]

Jeff,

How do you check the IP address? Tracert? or is there another method?


Duane

[chet]

http://www.dnsstuff.com and www.deja.com are your friends.

Check their emails on deja.com
If they are already hosted somewhere, use dnsstuff's spam checker for their current ip. Also check their whois there as well.

I also check the name on both deja and google.

Also, we never activate accounts that do not have a domain and a semi-valid whois record.

Chet

[idologicJeff]

Originally posted by chet
http://www.dnsstuff.com and www.deja.com are your friends.

Chets sites are good. I do everything [practically] from the linux/unix command line.

Linux has a few commands (but is not limited to) which are helpful:

i.e. dig,whois,nslookup

Cheers
Jeff

[Dacsoft]

Thanks for the advice.

Dacsoft

[okihost]

This is what we do:

Check that address and zip match, if they do just do a quick IP geo lookup at dnsstuff.com and put it through.

If any red flags come up we usually do a whois on the domain to see if that shows anything interesting if not we usually give them a buzz on the phone to verify the order and leave a message if no one answers and shoot out and email.. we dont put it through till we get some verification though.

Regrding the not taking free email addresses while I do understand why people would not allow this I also understand that many people use free email addresses such as hotmail, yahoo etc because it is known to be some of the most reliable email and it can be accessed from anywhere so I think you are cutting out a fair amount of people by limiting this.

[Dacsoft]

I want to thank everybody for taking the time to answer these questions.

Dacsoft

[Alex West]

The best method is to call everyone who signs up just to confirm the order... It's very rare that someone using an account to spam or ordered it fraudulently will be verifiable by phone.

[VNPIXEL]

1. check the name on the order form and the name on the credit card that they use to order. If they are not matching, you know what it is.
2. Call the # that they provide when they sign up and verify the order.