Web Hosting Talk : Web Hosting Main Forums : Reseller Hosting : What's wrong with this customer ?

[joshuayip]

Hi there,

I am back ! Sorry been away for so long. Missed the good conversation here.

I have been a reseller for a while now. Not exactly the top notch performers, but I am taking the time to know my customers. I know each of them personally.

But recently I got an order from the net. I never get that. Normally I key in the customer details myself, into my billing software. However, sign up forms linked from the order page is available. I dont advertise online, not at all at this point of time. Not even a signature in forums or something. This order seems totally stranged to me.

I havent much experience in dealing with fraud, that is why I have come to ask all of you.

This order is paid using paypal. Just waiting for me to claim it. All the details of the customer is bogus. The name, the address,the domain name, the EMAIL too.... I couldnt actually contact him, unless through paypal address. Which I did, one time to ask this person to sign up again with real details. 18 hours later, I got another order, same like the first one.

( How do you register a eg. .cmo ? or .ngk ? ??)

It doesnt make any sense to me at all, that this customer has not even asked a single thing about the services I provide, but straight away signed up the most expensive package I have, which is equivalent to a semi dedicated package you find in the market.

So what am I looking at here? Any idea?

Joshua

[ScottJ]

It sounds to me like you have a case of fraud.

[joshuayip]

Thanks SJR for your reply. How would you handle it? Ignore and delete?

Joshua

[joshuayip]

Just got an email from Paypal ... Fraudulent Fund. If I had received it, it will be reversed. Well good thing I didn't =)

Maybe the 'customer' hacked into some paypal account and tried to buy something with it

Case close
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[WireNine]

Always delete and refund any order which provides you with false information.

Don't approve any orders without validating all information, and confirming via phone.

[2Macs Jim]

We've had that before, tried contacting the guy several times but couldn't. Waited a few days then just refunded it. He just paid for services, but never explained what he wanted.

[cartika-andrew]

Hi Joshua,

Dont process the order (or refund) and make sure you alert the original account owner and paypal that it appears as though that account has been compromised.

Nothing to be concerned about - sadly, this happens ALL the time.

[AvailNetworks]

Originally Posted by CartikaHosting

Hi Joshua,

Dont process the order (or refund) and make sure you alert the original account owner and paypal that it appears as though that account has been compromised.

Nothing to be concerned about - sadly, this happens ALL the time.

unfortunately this is true. A couple of weeks ago I received 5 transactions in a week that were all fraud, too bad you cannot do anything to stop it. I just add the order ip's to my block ip list and move on

[Swelly]

Originally Posted by joshuayip

Thanks SJR for your reply. How would you handle it? Ignore and delete?

Joshua

Always! When dealing with fraud, you want to avoid chargebacks as much as possible. With that said, always delete the account (or suspend it in your billing system) then refund the money asap. I think you have a case of fraud on your hands. In addition, always go with your gut, most of the time YOU are correct.

[Beachcomber]

Originally Posted by WN-Ali

Always delete and refund any order which provides you with false information.

Don't approve any orders without validating all information, and confirming via phone.

Needs to be said again:

Always delete and refund any order

If you do not refund you will get charged back and the will result in higher discount rates from your CC processor and/or Paypal...or limit your abillity to negotiate rates at a later date as your business increases.

[HivelocityGM]

We get this all the time. More often than not its fraud. Send an email letting them know they wont get service unless you get good contact information. I would be surprised if you hear from them They will probably try to spam off whatever account you give them.

[ldcdc]

Originally Posted by joshuayip

Just got an email from Paypal ... Fraudulent Fund. If I had received it, it will be reversed. Well good thing I didn't =)

Maybe the 'customer' hacked into some paypal account and tried to buy something with it

Case close
--------------------

Looks to me like you did a good thing by waiting and investigating.

I'll close this thread now. If you want us to open this thread again, all you need to do is say so (via the report feature).