5 Tips to Help Prevent & Manage Fraud

Abebooks.com takes the security of our website very seriously, and our Security and Trust team work hard to monitor activity every day. We also encourage our booksellers to stay informed of the potential risks, so that you can work independently to help reduce your own vulnerability.

To assist you in your efforts, we’ve compiled a list of simple tips (below) with links to additional support pages in the Bookseller Central area of our website. Please take a moment to read through, and then keep this important information easily at hand.

You can help prevent and manage attempted fraud.

Start by using the tips below to confirm the buyer and payment method details on every order.

1. If the buyer is using check, money order or cash equivalent, do not ship the book until after payment has been confirmed. If you are processing a credit card, confirm payment by ensuring the credit card charge has been verified by the credit card company before you ship the order.
2. Verify the shipping address. Visit the Security and Trust page for tips and links for doing this.
3. If Abebooks accepts credit cards as part of our service to you, but a buyer contacts you independently from the Abebooks system, suggest that they place their order on the Abebooks Web site by emailing them a link to the book from your Abebooks listings. Knowing that the order is being processed by a major internet retailer often deters fraudulent buyers who may target small, independent businesses.
4. Insuring and tracking packages can help protect you against fraudulent claims after an order has been sent.
5. Most importantly, if you are ever suspicious about an order, do not hesitate to contact the buyer directly. Personal communication can reassure you that the buyer is legitimate. Be cautious of orders where you are unable to contact the buyer.

The more you know about security and trust, and the more you act on that information, the harder it is for buyers to defraud your business.

For more tips, please visit the Security and Trust page in Bookseller Central. For the latest updates on recent trends, visit the Current Issues section.

We work hard to help you keep your business safe. We appreciate the contributions that our booksellers make by identifying and reporting potentially fraudulent activity, and will continue to work with you on this important issue. When possible, we notify booksellers of suspicious orders; however, booksellers who process their own payments are responsible for screening all of their orders.