Payment cards are a popular and reliable means of payment. Unfortunately, they are occasionally used improperly. This also happens online. In order to prevent fraud, you should pay attention to a number of aspects. The most important rule: use common sense.

• Pay attention to strange orders
  Keep an eye on orders, including a long-term check. Have strange quantities been ordered? Is there an unusual delivery address? Keep on the safe side and check whether the order is correct.
  Examples:
  - orders from adjacent house numbers;
  - orders from different addresses made using the same e-mail address;
  - orders from geographical areas that do not make sense because the products are difficult to ship or because the products are cheaper in that area;
  - orders of multiple quantities of the same article to a single address if it is does not make sense to use more than one in the same household/family
  Analyse the orders and compare the various orders/situations. Try to work out whether a certain order would make sense coming from a sympathetic, bona fide consumer?
  
  
• Ask for order confirmation by fax or phone
  We recommend extra checks, particularly when large sums of money are involved. For example, ask for an order confirmation by fax or call the customer by phone. Check to see if the phone number is in the phone book. You can make it compulsory to enter a telephone number and e-mail address. Refuse to accept cell phone numbers and free e-mail addresses (like Hotmail).
  
  
• Ask for the Card Validation Code
  The 3-digit CVC2-code (MasterCard) or CVV2-code (Visa) or CAV2-code (JCB) is an extra check besides the expiry date and card number. You can make it compulsory to enter this code too.
  More information about these codes can be found in the Infoguide. This manual can be downloaded here.
  
  
• On delivery, ask for a signature
  To ensure that the order is delivered to the correct address, ask for a signature on delivery. Only deliver to the addressee in person. Do not deliver to neighbours if the addressee is not home. We recommend that you do not deliver to post box numbers.
  
  
• Take care with certain products
  Electronics (cell phones, cameras, hardware, etc.), video and music content, software, expensive brand articles or erotic articles are examples of products that have a higher risk of fraudulent orders online. Extra vigilance is required.
  
  
• Ask your Payment Service Provider
  Ask your PSP what they offer in terms of services or tools to prevent fraud. Your PSP can often carry out multiple checks on data to which you as a business owner do not have access.

Cooperate to create security
We are more than happy to help you prevent fraud, which is why we are continuously working on new ways to prevent improper use of credit cards. One of these developments is the introduction of Verified by Visa or MasterCard® SecureCode™. Ask your Payment Service Provider (PSP) whether you can use Verified by Visa and MasterCard SecureCode; they may also have other ways to help you make online payments even more secure.