Most fraudulent orders leave clues. Here are the warning signs Shopify points to, and what to do when you see them.
Payment checks
Start with payment. Failed address or security code checks, a card location that doesn't match the customer, or several cards used on one order are all warning signs.
- ❌ Failed AVS or CVV check
- ❌ Card location doesn't match the customer
- ❌ More than one card used
Customer details
Then check the customer. An IP address far from the shipping address, or from a proxy or hosting service. A phone number that's invalid, or an email with no real online presence.
- IP: Far away, proxy, or hosting service
- Phone: Invalid, or area code mismatch
- Email: No verifiable online presence
Order patterns
Watch for patterns too. Billing and shipping addresses on different continents. Several orders with different names and cards, all shipping to one address. Or a burst of small declined payments, which can mean card testing.
- Address: Billing and shipping far apart
- Pattern: Different names and cards, one address
- Testing: Many small declined attempts
Not proof on its own
No single sign proves fraud. Gifts ship to different addresses all the time. When several flags line up, contact the customer and confirm before you ship.
- Count the flags
- Contact the customer
- Hold until confirmed
Doing this at scale
RiskClarity weighs these signals on every paid order, explains the risk in plain English, and recommends allow, verify, or hold, so you're not checking each order by hand. See RiskClarity.