Fraudulent orders and chargebacks in peak season

.comparison-cards { display: flex; flex-direction: column; gap: 1.5rem; } .comparison-card { background: #fff; border-radius: 16px; padding: 20px; border: 2px solid #efefef; } .comparison-header { display: flex; justify-content: space-between; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 12px; } .comparison-row { display: flex; justify-content: space-between; padding: 8px 0; border-top: 1px solid #efefef; font-size: 14px; color: #1f2937; } .comparison-label { font-size: 14px; width: 30%; } .comparison-value { width: 65%; text-align: right; } @media (max-width: 600px) { .comparison-row { flex-direction: column; align-items: flex-start; } .comparison-value { text-align: left; margin-top: 4px; } } In the weeks around Black Friday (27 November 2026) and up to Christmas, order volume rises, the team is busy and checks are done in a hurry. That is exactly when fraudulent orders slip through most easily. A single one paid with a stolen card can cost you the product, the shipping, the dispute fee and the time lost. Below you have the signs of a suspicious order, the checks to do before shipping, what 3D Secure does and does not do, and how to respond to a disputed payment. Three types of problems Stolen card fraud: someone pays with another person's details. The real cardholder sees the transaction and disputes it with the bank, and the money goes back to them, usually out of your account. Friendly fraud: the real customer receives the parcel but tells the bank they did not get it or do not recognise the payment. Sometimes it is bad faith, sometimes they simply forgot what they bought. Card testing: a bot tries dozens of cards with small amounts at checkout to find out which ones work. You see many declined payments in a row from the same source. Signs of a suspicious order No single sign proves fraud. What matters is the combination. Here is what I watch and what I do in each case: Sign Billing and delivery address in different countries or cities Why it matters Stolen card fraud…