Fraud scores have gotten sharper. They scan for VPN use, mismatched billing and shipping addresses, unusual purchase patterns, and dozens of other signals. But ask around in any merchant forum, and you'll hear the same story again and again:
"The fraud tool said it was a clean transaction. But my gut said no. And I'm glad I listened."
This post pulls together real examples of false negatives, those "green light" orders that slipped through fraud detection software but still turned out to be fraudulent. The common thread? The merchant felt something wasn't right, and their instincts ended up being more accurate than the algorithm.
When the Email Says More Than the Score
One seller shared a case where everything in the fraud tool looked normal. No red flags. But the customer email address had odd spacing and formatting. There were too many dots. The capitalization was strange. The reply came in all lowercase with oddly phrased sentences and broken grammar.
It wasn't enough to trigger the fraud score. But it felt robotic, like someone using a script. The merchant canceled the order. Two weeks later, they saw a chargeback come through anyway from a different account with the same shipping address.
Shipping Address Red Flags
Another merchant recounted a time when a $900 electronics order passed the score check. However, the delivery address was to a hotel, using a guest's name with a room number as the street address.
The score gave it a pass. The merchant didn't.
They reached out to the buyer, who didn't respond. That alone was enough to cancel. Later, they found out the address had been flagged in another merchant group as a known drop site for reshippers.
Sometimes, it's not about what's technically wrong. It's about what doesn't feel right.
The Tone of Panic
A few merchants noticed a trend. When fraudsters impersonate real cardholders, they often contact support in a panic. Not to ask about the order, but to rush it. They ask for express shipping. They want tracking numbers immediately. They push, even when the order hasn't cleared.
One merchant flagged a $400 beauty product order where the buyer emailed three times in two hours. "Can you ship today? Is it going out now? Please I need it for my girlfriend's birthday tonight." It felt off.
The fraud score? Clear. No problems.
But that panic tone triggered something. The merchant held the order. A dispute hit a few days later.
Chargeback Prevention Is More Than Data
Fraud tools are essential. They save time. They catch what humans can't. But they're not perfect, especially with card-not-present fraud.
When merchants override a fraud score, it's often based on something that doesn't fit into a rule. It's a tone in an email. A pattern in the address. A way the buyer types. A story that doesn't add up.
Those things are hard to quantify, but easy to spot when you're paying attention.
Knowing When to Step In
Here's a short list of instinct triggers shared across forums:
- Email addresses that look "generated" or have excessive dots, dashes, or numbers.
- Pressure to rush orders, especially high-value ones.
- Multiple attempts with slightly different card or contact details.
- No response to verification requests.
- Billing and shipping addresses that are technically valid, but suspicious (hotels, coworking spaces, warehouses).
These aren't definitive proof of fraud. But they're signals that should slow you down.
Don't Let the Green Light Blind You
Fraud detection software gives you a score. But you make the final call.
If you ever feel uneasy, even if the tools say it's safe, listen to that discomfort. Merchants who override clean scores usually do so for a reason. And more often than not, those instincts are right.
Chargeblast Helps You Catch the Ones That Slip Through
Automated tools are powerful. But the toughest chargebacks happen when fraud slips through the cracks. Chargeblast helps merchants stop those disputes early, before they hit your account. We flag patterns, investigate repeat fraud, and give you the tools to fight back without guesswork.
Your instincts are good. We make them even stronger.
Ready to see how?
