Not all strange behavior is a red flag. Sometimes, it's just a customer trying to buy something the only way they know how.
It's easy to assume fraud when a customer tries four times to make a payment or when an order comes in under someone else's name. But if you block too fast or issue a refund without looking closer, you could miss a legitimate sale and possibly upset someone who was just trying to get through your checkout page.
Let's walk through some common situations that look shady at first but often have simple, innocent explanations.
1. Multiple Payment Attempts from One Household
What it looks like:
A single IP sends three failed card attempts, and then a new card finally works. The billing names are all slightly different.
Why it might be legit:
Families often share computers, Wi-Fi, and even devices. One person's card might fail because of a typo or fraud block, and someone else steps in to try their own card.
In shared households, it's also common for kids to try to use a parent's card or vice versa, especially during gift-buying seasons.
How to check:
- Look at the shipping info. If it's consistent, that's a good sign.
- Check for multiple cards with similar last names or the same email domain.
- Contact the buyer if you're unsure. A legit household usually replies fast and clears things up.
2. High-Volume Gifting During the Holidays
What it looks like:
A buyer places 12 orders in one day. All going to different addresses. All gift wrapped.
Why it might be legit:
Some customers use online stores to ship gifts to friends and family all at once, especially around major holidays or birthdays.
Gifting behavior can be unusual, but that doesn't make it fraud. In fact, generous shoppers often look like fraudsters on paper. Too many orders, inconsistent names, and unfamiliar addresses all trigger risk filters.
How to check:
- Look for consistent payment info, even if the names on shipping labels change.
- Review past customer activity. Repeat gifting patterns show a trusted customer, not a fraud ring.
- Tag them as safe if confirmed. This prevents unnecessary flags in the future.
3. Re-ordering Because of Confirmation Issues
What it looks like:
A customer places the same order two or three times. Then sends a dispute saying they only meant to order once.
Why it might be legit:
Confirmation emails sometimes go to spam. Some customers don't know how to check order history. If they don't get a receipt within a few minutes, they assume the order didn't go through and try again.
It gets worse when there's a checkout bug or a payment processor delay. The customer sees nothing and hits "Pay" again.
How to check:
- Review timestamps. If repeat orders happened within minutes, they probably didn't mean to spam your system.
- If the orders are identical, you can usually refund duplicates and reach out before anything escalates.
- A chargeback here is usually avoidable with good post-purchase communication.
4. Slight Mismatches in Billing and Shipping Info
What it looks like:
Billing name: J. Rodriguez
Shipping name: Lisa Tran
Email domain looks random
Why it might be legit:
This happens with couples, roommates, or when someone ships a gift. It can also happen when people use a business card to send personal items. Email aliases and billing nicknames also throw off automated checks.
How to check:
- See if this customer has done this before. Repeat mismatches with no disputes usually means low risk.
- Cross-reference email address and device ID. That can help verify the user without relying only on name matching.
5. Large First-Time Orders
What it looks like:
A new customer places a $900 order right after landing on your site. No browsing. Straight to checkout.
Why it might be legit:
Not everyone shops the same. Some people know what they want and don't waste time.
Others may have found your store after researching elsewhere and just want to grab everything at once.
How to check:
- Look at referral sources. If they came from a review blog or comparison site, they probably came to buy.
- Confirm with a quick verification email or SMS. If they respond quickly, that usually clears suspicion.
- Don't punish fast decision-makers. Not all legit buyers browse for 30 minutes before purchasing.
The Risk of Blocking Good Customers
Automated fraud filters can be helpful, but they also catch normal human behavior if they're set too tight. That leads to false positives, lost sales, and even chargebacks from confused customers who think they've been charged in error.
If you're not looking at the story behind the transaction, you're going to block people who were just trying to buy from you.
Real Merchants Are Talking About This
On industry forums, it's clear that this problem shows up across every vertical—from small handmade shops to large-scale e-commerce. One merchant shared how they almost blocked a $2,000 gifting order during Christmas because the names didn't match. Turns out, the buyer was sending gifts to 10 team members. They now mark this customer as safe every holiday season.
Another seller explained how they get repeat orders from the same email because their system has a long delay on confirmations. Customers panic, reorder, then call support. Fixing the checkout flow reduced both duplicate orders and disputes.
Final Takeaway
Not every strange purchase is a scam. Some customers are just confused, cautious, or helping a friend. Instead of relying on gut instinct or rigid filters, it helps to slow down and look at the full picture, such as timestamps, behavior patterns, household IPs, and shipping logic.
Doing so saves you from canceling the good with the bad.
Tired of Guessing Who's a Fraudster and Who's Just in a Rush?
Chargeblast helps you sort out suspicious buyers from real ones before you refund a legit order or get hit with a preventable chargeback. Our tools give you real-time insights, patterns, and alerts so you can act with confidence and keep the right customers around.
