Category: Merchant Accounts
High Risk Merchant Account Tips on Ip Detection
Posted by admin in Merchant Accounts Thursday, 2 September 2010 06:20 No Comments
Any high risk merchant should be aware, if not become thoroughly an expert, of all the technical aspects of credit card transactions. Let’s face it, doing business online is taking risk a hundred times more dangerous than doing business the brick and mortar fashion. Smart merchants would never plunge headlong into online ventures without a good, working knowledge of the loopholes of the billing process via credit cards.
High risk merchant account providers employ various tactics to mitigate the frequency of chargebacks such as restriction on the use of anonymous e-mail addresses, credit card validation, IP address detection, and proxy server identification.
Anonymous E-mail Addresses
They would make sure email address, phone number, zip code, credit card, mailing /shipping address and other forms of identification are valid. It’s rather commonplace to hear that if you were dealing with credit cards, it would be unwise to accept credit card owners that provide anonymous or free e-mail addresses such as @yahoo.com, @hotmail.com, or @gmail.com.
Credit Card Validation and Other Issues
All low risk and high risk merchants are required to integrate a credit card validation system with the customer’s issuing bank.
To make it even foolproof, merchants would double check for phone number and zip code authenticity, as well as compatibility with the customer’s billing address and issuing bank’s country. Some would even make sure they are not doing transactions with customers that originate from high risk countries.
How IP Address Detection Works
Merchants, however, will find even better benefit in taking advantage of detecting the IP addresses of their customers. Security is a tall order when it comes to buying and selling online.
As a matter of fact, legitimate buyers would most welcome security measures such as IP geolocation from high risk merchant account providers to protect them from credit card fraud. Scammers would hide behind anonymous e-mail addresses and proxy servers. The most that high risk merchants can do is to filter suspicious IP addresses. The process goes as following:
1. Merchants detect IP address using geolocation technology and IP validation technology. It may be categorized by country, zip code, area code or billing address.
2. The geolocation/IP validation technology identifies where the user is located spot-on and compares where the person making order is located and his actual billing address.
3. Merchants analyze, double check transactions, and filter legitimate and illegitimate transactions. They may also block transactions considered as possible frauds, or transactions originating from fraud-prone high risk countries.
Proxy Server Identification
IP address detection also goes hand in hand with proxy server identification. Merchants may find difficulty in detecting IP addresses if customers hide behind anonymous proxy servers.
What is a Proxy Server?
A proxy server facilitates network performance by making use of a caching system. The cache is a temporary storage for data that have been viewed recently (like a brain’s short term memory). The purpose is to prevent data such as web pages and images from being downloaded repeatedly, thus saving time on accessing them online. Another is to help network administrators filter sites that they deem other users of the network must not access.
Detecting IP addresses and proxy servers can be tricky. A strong support from a high risk merchant account providers that employs strong IP and proxy server detection technology will help your e-commerce store counteract frauds. This is because anonymous proxy servers cannot be detected consistently. With the help of a reliable IP and proxy server detection technology, a merchant will have less time for worries and more time for finding more solutions to increase profit for his business.
Gerri Bryce is a versatile technical writer specializing in general web content copywriting and consultancy for finance and
high risk merchant account providers. She has contributed a massive number of articles for today’s most popular technology, gadget, gaming, business, finance, and science news websites. She participates in a number of top webmaster, finance and merchant account forums. Currently, Ms. Bryce lives in Marin County, California. She keeps herself abreast with Web 2.0 and cutting edge Internet trends by attending business workshops, online meet-ups, and conferences for merchant account professionals. She also travels extensively throughout the United States and Asia. e-mail:
gerri.bryce@gmail.com
Quality Credit Card Machines at Merchant-accounts.com
Posted by admin in Merchant Accounts Thursday, 2 September 2010 06:20 No Comments
There are a number of credit card machines available in the market today. Not surprisingly, most businessmen find it rather difficult to make a prudent decision when it comes to purchasing the right credit card processing machine. The first part of the decision making process is easy enough. You simply need to match your business with the machine you are looking to purchase. For example, if you are a retail merchant, you will need a credit card swipe machine and if you are an online merchant you will need to apply for a virtual terminal. A virtual terminal is an online version of credit card machines used in retail stores.
The second part of the process is a little tricky. Which company or brand’s credit card machine should you purchase? To make this decision easier you can log onto the website Advanced Merchant Accounts. AMS is the one of the oldest and most reputed Merchant Service providers currently operating in the online environment. AMS is moreover an ongoing member of the Better Business Bureau, which is testament to its commitment to quality and superior commercial practices. AMS offers a number of excellent credit card machines. In fact by applying for a merchant account you immediately become eligible for a free credit card machine.
AMS offers the Verifone Tranz 330, with every new merchant account. The Tranz 330, is very reliable easy to use terminal that will make processing easier for you and your clients. However, if you desire something a little more advanced, you should go for the Lipman Nurit Wireless Credit Card Machine. The Nurit 8000 operates on the circular GPRS network, which gives a huge coverage range. Even if your client lives in the suburbs, outside the city you will never face any inconvenience. The value of being recognised by people is to look for flawless real time credit card processing.
There are several other credit card processing machines offered by AMS. But with these you should also contemplate purchasing the PC Charge Pro. PC charge Pro, is an advanced software package designed for businessmen who need fast and convenient transaction procession, with infallible security features like AVS and CVV, which minimise frauds and chargebacks. The software works perfectly on all windows system. To find out more, about the various credit card machines offered by AMS do visit us at www.merchant-accounts.com.
Steve Depraida is a well known author who writes articles on Merchant Accounts like Merchant Services, Merchant Service, Accept Credit Cards, Credit Card Processing, Credit Card Machines, Internet Merchant Accounts etc. For further details, please visit the site www.merchant-accounts.com.
Internet Merchant Accounts – Accept Credit Payments Online
Posted by admin in Merchant Accounts Wednesday, 1 September 2010 06:21 No Comments
If you have ever tried surfing Google, using the phrase “Internet merchant accounts” you must have been astounded by the results. Over four hundred thousand merchant service providers vying for your account, is likely to leave anyone dumbfounded. Some of these service providers provide services for all businesses irrespective of their domain of specialization. Whether you own a retail store, take order through phone or have a website based business, they process all types of payments. Then there are some that process payments, for any one of these of these three types of businesses. It’s however better, to go for those providers that provide all round payment processing services. It’s also important to check out with the service providers whether they process international payments in addition to domestic payments. These are some of the most basic things you need to be aware of, while deciding upon a merchant service provider.
In addition to above mentioned considerations, you also need to understand the three tier structure of merchant services. First there is the payment gateway which is the secret code that transmits a customer’s order to internet merchant account provider. Then comes the merchant accounts, which is an account with a financial institution that basically enables you capture funds from the credit cards of your customers. The funds captured are transferred to your personal account within two to three business days. Then there’s your website, which you would need to integrate with your service providers. Most Internet merchant accounts service providers have detailed web integration instructions.
Then third part of your quest to the perfect Internet merchant service provider involves discovering the cost factor. There are a number of fees that are charged by merchant service providers. Some of them have no valid justification and are a part of the service providers money making scheme. Fee charges like termination fees and miscellaneous fees should be negotiated with the service provider. However, you can save yourself all this trouble by simply logging to Advanced Merchant Services.
Advanced Merchant Services (AMS), is one of the premier merchant service providers operating in the United States. We are a 360 degree service provider and are backed by the most powerful conglomeration of banks in the United States. More importantly, the unique advantages we offer can’t be aped any other site. Our position of absolute superiority in the field is reflected by the Price Bust option. Moreover, we are also providing a free credit card terminal with every new merchant account. To find out more about our services, do visit us at www.merchant-accounts.com.
Steve Depraida is a well known author who writes articles on Merchant Accounts like Merchant Services, Merchant Service, Accept Credit Cards, Credit Card Processing, Credit Card Machine, Internet Merchant Accounts etc. For further details, please visit the site www.merchant-accounts.com.
5 Tips to Secure your Merchant Account From Frauds
Posted by admin in Merchant Accounts Tuesday, 31 August 2010 06:20 No Comments
Where money is being generated there are thieves. Money and goods draw unscrupulous people like bees to honey. And the popular marketplace for thieves today is the World Wide Web. Cyber thieves can carry on their robbery without being policed or leaving traces of their activities. So, it is important for ecommerce websites to protect their merchant accounts from frauds and stay one-step ahead of cyber fraudsters. Its not just money but goods that are stolen from the cyber marketplace.
The statistics regarding credit card fraud and chargeback fees to merchants is frightening. According to research the estimated online fraud in 2007 in the US alone is projected ar 3.2 billion USD. Online fraud has been on the rise, in 2003 it was 2.3 billion USD; 2005 it was 2.7 billion USD and in 2006 it reached 3.0 billion USD.
It is important for cyber business to stay one step ahead of criminals to secure their online payment systems optimally:
1. It is important to ensure that you ask the gateway provider about screening features and the functions of each. Screening features must precede credit card payment processing. Many payment gateways have in place an address verification system, AVS. This checks the address given on the billing details with the address in the credit card issuer’s records. Use the AVS system as an indicator of internet fraud.
2. Always use the CVV2 as an indicator the CVV2 is the three digit identifying number located on the back of a credit card. Although this check helps minimize fraud some thieves even use the correct CVV2 number while thieving.
3. Use a quick verification process that goes a little beyond asking for the customer’s name, credit card number, and CCV2. Devise simple questions that will help you check the identity of the customer. Check e-mail account details to verify whether the customer is genuine. Frauds hardly ever use their own email addresses.
4. Check whether the shipping address and billing address are the same. And request for a contact number if a customer hesitates then refuse to process the order. Fraudsters hardly ever give their own phone numbers and more often than not request for goods to be shipped to addresses other than the credit card billing addresses.
5. Install traffic tracking software on your website. This creates demographic data that will pinpoint origins of orders. For this method to be effective use a “time stamp” on each submitted order. If a order originates from Siberia with a billing address in London then make all efforts to verify he order stringently.
When in doubt always make enquires with the bank or credit card company and do not ship the order unless you confirm it is genuine. Suspect large orders that request express delivery. Trust is important in any business so it is important for you to also rely on your instincts, if any order seems “odd” take the time to make thorough checks. Many e-commerce merchants have a system in place that verifies customers by calling the telephone number of the person placing the order.
Be a savvy e-commerce merchant and keep up-to-date with e-commerce security developments and innovations. Read articles and reviews on the World Wide Web with regularity. Sites like http://www.merchant911.org/fraud-trends.html are devoted to helping online merchants conduct their business safely.
Alex Ahlersmeyer is a retired Merchant Account Agent and a writer for Online Merchant Accounts , the premier website to find free search for Merchant Account, Offshore Merchant Accounts, Instant Merchant Account, Internet Merchant Account, Merchant Accounts Services and many more.
Merchant Account Processing – Keep Your Business Growing With Credit Card Acceptance
Posted by admin in Merchant Accounts Monday, 30 August 2010 06:20 No Comments
Running a business should never interfere with the customer interaction and management of your business. When it comes to having an online business especially, you need to make sure that you are able to find a merchant account processing service that can help you to get what you need from your business ownership. Not accepting credit cards is not an option for online companies. For traditional businesses, it can be an option, but is not one that will be a wise business decision. People like things that are fast and easy these days, and credit card processing is one of those services that people have come to expect. Most often, if a company doesn’t accept credit or debit cards, the general public is more shocked and appalled than understanding of the expense.
What consumers don’t understand is that merchant account processing isn’t free. You will have to pay to set up and keep the account in operation, as well as paying for the transactions that you process. However, these fees are generally quite minimal when compared to the different benefits of accepting credit card payments. You wouldn’t want to inherently affect your business in a negative manner, would you? By not accepting credit card payments, you will be directly hampering your business’s success. Take the time to check out the companies that offer merchant account services and find one that suits your needs.
What about third party processing services? Forget about them. They might seem more affordable and easier for someone just starting out, but they will generally cost much more in the end. Plus, they won’t make your website as easy to use as a merchant account processing service would, and they will deter a lot of customers from using your site. For example, take two sites that sell the same products. One offers credit card processing through PayPal or ClickBank. These companies both require customers to have an account, which creates an extra step and more hassle for customers. The other has a direct merchant account that allows them to process payments immediately and right on their own site. People are obviously going to choose the site that has a faster, more convenient processing method.
These are all things to keep in mind when it comes to getting merchant account processing services. If you keep putting off credit card processing setup, your business will suffer the consequences in lost sales and potential customers. It’s a natural step in setting up your business to get a merchant account, so you should take the time to research them and find one that suits your business.
Merchant account processing helps open your business to more customers, more sales, and more profit. Start accepting credit card payments with http://www.PaymentConnect.com
