3 Ways To Stop In-Person Credit Card Fraud
Purchasing products and services with a credit card is incredibly common in the United States.
Key Takeaways You Will Get From This Article
1. If you accept credit card in person, always watch for unusual customer behavior.
2. If something seems off, one of the easiest ways to minimize in-person credit card fraud is to ask to see an ID like a driver’s license.
3. Payment Card Industry standards instruct how to securely accept, transmit, and store cardholder data.
In fact, according to a 2017 study published by the Federal Reserve, total card payments (measured in number of transactions) grew from 103.5 billion in 2015 to 111.1 billion in 2016, an increase of 7.6 billion transactions.
With that many transactions every year, the possibility of credit card fraud can be high as well.
As credit card processing becomes more accessible and companies shift to online sales, some small businesses are transitioning from cash-only establishments to ones that accept credit cards.
As a small business who goes through transactions every day with customers, it is part of your responsibility to look out for signals of credit card fraud.
Below, we dissect 3 ways to protect your small business from credit card fraud.
If your small business accepts credit cards, here are three ways you can protect yourself from in-person credit card fraud.
1. Watch for unusual customer behavior.
If you accept credit cards in-person, observe the behavior of your customers.
Look for consumers who:
− are nervous or rushed to complete the transaction
− look at the signature on the back of the credit card while they sign the receipt
− purchase an unusual quantity of expensive items
These behaviors aren’t always indicators of credit card fraud, but they are common warning signs.
If a customer seems suspicious, trust your instincts.
2. Ask to see identification.
If something seems off, one of the easiest ways to minimize in-person credit card fraud is to ask to see an ID like a driver’s license.
This lets you compare the name on the ID to the name on the credit card.
It also gives you the opportunity to compare the signature on the ID to the signature on the credit card.
Most consumers won’t think twice if you politely ask, “May I see your ID?”
The customer’s response, including their nonverbal communication, may give you additional insight.
3. Follow Payment Card Industry (PCI) security standards.
According to the Security Standards Council, “The best way to maximize security of cardholder data is to continuously monitor and enforce the use of controls specified in the PCI Data Security Standard (DSS).”
PCI standards instruct how to securely accept, transmit, and store cardholder data.
One PCI DSS standard is to use and regularly update anti-virus software. Another simple requirement is to use strong passwords.
There are a lot of benefits to offering credit card processing options to your customers.
At the same time, you want to protect your small business from credit card fraud.
The bottom line: Study the warning signs, ask to see an ID if you feel suspicious, and always ensure that your payment processing system is PCI Certified.
Choose EMS For Safe and Secure Credit Card Processing Systems
Now that you know what to look for to identify in-person credit card fraud, take a step further and protect your customers' from credit card fraud from stolen personal information.
At EMS, we understand that when you are looking to invest in payment processing systems for a small business, you want to be confident that your customers' transactions and personal information is safeguarded.
Ready to look into investing in an EMS credit card processing system? Contact one of our Account Executives by clicking the button below!
