A good way to reduce an agency’s exposure to credit card fraud is to establish best practices when dealing with new or existing customers. Fraudsters are very creative when it comes to thinking up new ways to deceive agents and having established procedures in place can help both new agents and veteran agents identify fraud schemes. Researching new customer information (refer to our Free Internet Tools and Digitally Altered Images) may help quickly spot a potential fraudster before tickets are issued.
Below you’ll find best practices recommended for leisure and corporate agencies.
Credit Card Red Flags
When accepting a credit card from a new customer it is recommended that agents look beyond the fact that they received a credit card authorization from their GDS. Fraudsters typically use compromised credit cards (they have the credit card information, not the credit card itself) when ordering tickets for themselves and other travelers. Because the true cardholder does not know a fraudster is using their card information, the card is not listed as “stolen” by the card issuer; therefore, the authorization will go through if there is available credit on the account.
Use the Credit Card Red Flags document to think beyond just the authorization code and more about who is ordering tickets for other people, why they’re ordering tickets from your agency, and what kind of itineraries are requested. Asking yourself these types of questions before you issue tickets for new customers may reduce your exposure to possible credit card fraud.
Corporate Travel Agencies
Corporate agents are targeted just like leisure agents and many of the same red flags and fraudster characteristics are shared.
The following best practices are recommended to help reduce exposure to fraud:
Incorporating some or all of the best practices above may help identify if a fraudster is impersonating an employee at your corporate client and reduce your exposure to fraud.
Corporate Booking Tools
Many of the best practices identified in the Corporate Travel Agencies section apply to Corporate Booking Tools, as well.
The following best practices are additionally recommended:
After-Hours Services
Many of the best practices identified in the Corporate Travel Agencies section apply to After-Hours Services as well.
If agents believe they have had interactions with this fraudster fitting this profile, please contact ARC Fraud Prevention at 855-358-0393 (toll-free) or via email at StopFraud@arccorp.com.