Learn to recognize common seller scam tactics like overpayment and suspicious shipping to help reduce risk and prevent financial loss..

While Squarespace uses tools to help detect and block some fraudulent transactions, your oversight of the fulfillment process is critical to reducing the risk of financial loss. Identify common scam tactics and learn how to manage high-risk orders. 

Common scam tactics

Scammers use various methods to target online businesses. Reviewing common tactics can help you identify fraudulent activity before you fulfill an order.

Overpayment scams

In an overpayment scam, a customer intentionally pays more than the order total and asks you to refund the difference. This often happens via a different payment method than the original transaction (like a wire transfer or a different card) before their original payment has cleared.

To prevent overpayment scams, wait for a payment to fully clear in your bank account before issuing a refund. Always refund to the original payment method, and be careful if a customer requests a different method.

High-value or urgent orders

Scammers may place unusually large or time-sensitive orders to pressure you into shipping items before fraud is detected. Check for extreme urgency, like demanding overnight or immediate shipping, and ‌double-check bulk orders from new customers. Verify unclear instructions, and be wary of customers who insist on using their own third-party shipping account.

Shipping and billing address mismatches

To help identify potential fraud, review orders for address mismatches. While customers often ship to different locations, large distances between billing and shipping addresses can be a sign of fraud. If multiple orders with different billing names share a single destination, consider contacting the customer before fulfilling the order.

Phishing and brand impersonation

Phishing is when someone pretends to be a trusted company to steal sensitive information, like login information or banking details. To help prevent phishing, check the sender's address and look for misspellings or unusual domains in the From field of an email address. If you receive an email that looks like it’s from us but seems suspicious, report it.

Review security measures

Fraud tactics constantly change. While no single step can block all fraudulent activity, taking these security measures can help you manage your risk:

• Enable two-factor authentication. Adding an extra layer of security to your Squarespace account helps protect against unauthorized access.
• Keep transaction records. Save copies of your communications, shipping receipts, and tracking numbers. These records can be useful if you need to respond to a chargeback or dispute.
• Review unusual activity. If an order doesn't match your typical patterns, consider looking into the transaction details before fulfilling it.

If you’re unsure about a specific transaction, contact us. We can review the transaction details, but the final decision to fulfill or cancel an order remains your responsibility.