(PERTH COUNTY, ON) – The Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) urge local businesses to verify who they’re dealing with before conducting remote or online sales.
Police have seen recent instances of identity theft which are then used to target automotive dealerships. This results in the dealerships being the victim of Card-Not-Present (CNP) Frauds.
The fraudsters contact a dealership to place an order to purchase over the phone, by email or on their website, or online sales platforms. The suspects use counterfeit driver’s licences to complete the transactions, obtaining further credit, financing, and insurance with this fraudulent identification.
The scammers then request delivery of the vehicles to a public location in a parking lot and this is completed by the dealerships.
The real victims of the identity theft eventually receive notification of the vehicle or insurance purchases, unlawful charges, and acquired financing, and have to dispute the activity.
As a result, the business receives a chargeback and is responsible for paying back the amount charged on the stolen card, which can be a significant loss to the business.
Here are some tips to protect your business:
Confirm the purchaser’s identity with more than one valid photo government Identification in person at point of sale and delivery of vehicle
Confirm signatures in person with valid government identification at point of sale and delivery of vehicle
Carefully examine the identification produced for discrepancies and compare to valid sources
Confirm / request insurance information
Watch for orders made using different names, addresses and card numbers but are from a single IP (Internet Protocol) address
Prior to shipping merchandise, take steps to verify the information provided by the customer (telephone number, email address, shipping address etc.)
Be aware of orders from repeat customers that differ from regular spending patterns
Ensure security measures are established within your business to prevent victimization and reduce unwanted chargebacks
Businesses who accept Card Not Present orders can help avoid fraud by using the automated verification tools supported by their acquirer and the payment associations.
Any business victimized by the Card-Not-Present Fraud is asked to contact the OPP at 1-800-310-1122 or the police service in their jurisdiction. You can also call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS) or report the incident online at www.crimestoppers.ca. For more information on the latest frauds and scams, call the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre at 1-888-495-8501 (toll free) or got to www.antifraudcentre.ca.