I wanted to just let some other fellow dealers know what had happened to me recently.
I got an online order from a customer in Montreal, QC in May 2023 for a new Leica Geovid Pro 8x42 worth around $4800 with tax.
My card processor marked the credit card transaction as "low risk, advised to ship order", but I have had several attempted fraudulent transactions all from Quebec (I have GREAT QC customers, so this is not at all aimed at people living in QC, but rather all the scammers that seem to reside there) - so I approached the order with caution like I always do.
From the credit card fraud analysis, everything checked out (see screenshot attached).
I first emailed the customer and told them I would ship Canada Post to their credit card registered address, and the customer was happy with that. I then emailed the customer a few times before shipping, and everything was again verified, and I waited 3 days to ship the package - which I had "arranged" with the customer - this would afford me some time should there be a fraudulent credit card charge, so the "real" customer could see their card was charged fraudulently, but all went smoothly... Or so I thought.
I shipped the product out, sending the customer an email with Canada Post tracking info, and fully insured the package.
Fast forward 3 weeks, and I get an email from the "real" customer, informing me they were the victim of ID fraud, and that they had opened a "case" with Canada Post as well as Montreal Police, and that they had now disputed the transaction with their bank. They had received a card for pickup in their mailbox a couple of days after the package was delivered, and upon going to the Post Office, were told the package had already been collected....
Long story short, I got a $4800 chargeback and lost the money, pending a full investigation. I did everything in my power to ship to the correct address etc etc.
We provided the customers' bank with all the relevant info, shipping labels, email comms between me and the fraudster etc etc, and this morning, the customers' bank sided with the customer (wow, I'm not even shocked by that, as I knew I had NO leg to stand on even though I was 100% correct in everything I did), and I now finally "lost" the $4800.
I am positive the person at Canada Post was involved with this scam, as they needed to have checked ID and get a signature - unless the scammer actually also falsified an ID or drivers license... Who knows.
The police couldn't do anything, and Canada Post shrugged their shoulders, with NO compensation, as the package was "successfully delivered" - even though to a scammer.
I don't know what else one could do as a dealer, but it's made me rethink doing ANY credit card transactions for orders from QC, given I'm had several attempted fraudulent transactions from QC, but got lucky and never actually lost any product.
I hope no other dealers get caught by this - hence me sharing the experience.
Stay well everyone.
Cheers
Robbie