Need a way to prevent fraud

[hendis]

Hi. Thanks to anybody who can figure this one out.

I am running a Virtual ISP. I market internet service provided by another company. I do not have access to any of their equipment in any way.

I am building a website to help market this new service, and as you can expect, have a "Buy Now" button. The "Buy Now" button links to my provider's signup area, where the prospective purchaser (hopefully) will establish an account. The "Buy Now" button does not create a user account - it only takes the user to a place where it is possible to create a user account. In order to create a user account, the user must click on the "Create Account Now" button located on the provider's "signup" page. As I said before, I don't have access to any of their equipment - just "my" webpage.

My problem is this: How can I be sure that I receive credit for everyone that ultimately creates an account? I would like to receive an email giving me info about the user that created the account.

The provider company will send me info (eventually)about everyone who created an account and arrived at their signup page from my webpage. However, I need independent verification to make sure that I am not defrauded of rightfully-earned profits.

You can reply to this post through WebProWorld or you can reach me at hendis_NOSPAM@us89.net (Be sure to remove the underscore and capitalized letters.)

Thanks again!

[StevenAllen]

Frankly, it really does not sound that difficult. Use a gateway provider like Authorizenet to charge the client and an order page for the rest of your needed info. You of course will need a merchant account, but that should not be hard if you are credit worthy.

[hendis]

Steven,

Thank you for your fast reply.

Your post does, however, point out a glaring problem -- I didn't give you enough information, for which I'm very sorry!

My webpage is hosted for free by my provider, and they will process all of the subscriber payments using their own merchant account. If I let my provider process the payments, I (apparently) don't need a merchant account

It seems that the provider gives credit for a user that signs up and becomes a subscriber based on the web page that the user was viewing immediately before going to their signup page.

Thanks again,
Henry

[cyanide]

Well, to get an accurate count of sign ups, will be next to impossible. Since you don't have access to the sign up page.
Normally, you might build - in a script into that sign up form that would email you, everytime it was filled in and submitted.

Have you asked the provider if they can do something like that everytime a sign up occurs?

One thing you could do, is replace the sign-up button with a form button, which will email you, everytime it is clicked. But, ofcourse there's no gurantee that people that clicked also signed up.

[Andilinks]

If you have no way to verify and you do not have a personal relationship with the "trusted" party I think you should firmly say "forget the whole deal until there is a way to verify."

Anything less will always leave you wondering if you are being cheated. That's no way to do business or live life.

Just my 2 cents.

Andi

[xmx]

Henry,

in my opinion you have to add a page with a form that collects some basic data of the user.

You can request only the email address or first and last name, email address, city, country and more.

Clearly the user first will have to fill this form and when he/she submits it is redirected to the sign up page of your provider.

You can have the script of the form send you the data at your email or store them on your server.

Anyway it can always happen that someone fills the form but then do not sign up for the paid service so accuracy is not perfect.

[TrafficProducer]

Charge Backs may be something you have to consider.

This happens if a buyer does no pay the charge to the Gateway.

The Gateway may charge you quite a bit to handle this.

Some Gateways charge a lot some not so much, shop around.

These are sites that offer insurance against this.

I hope to add more Shooping Cart links in a few days at:-

PayPal Support Club. Review and helpful links, coding examples, warnings, other shopping cart links, etc. PayPal is a on-link banking system that allows website owners to integrate shopping cart technology into their site. Find out more, includes links to helpful site about PayPal shopping cart technology.

http://www.paypal.ukshoppers.com/index.html

[hupp25]

I agree with the group- tracking accuracy will be difficult. Can you reall trust or guarentee that the provider will credit you properly? If you decide to go it on your own- things you need to watch out for are rates charged to you, transaction fees, vitual terminals-will you process through quickbooks or paymentech or paypal for examples. Do they give tech. support? Hours you can reach a live body in case of trouble. Yes charge backs- and the one threat that is becoming more of an issues is identity theft. You as the merchant are on an island by yourself. The laws do not protect you-just the individual that had the cc stolen (found this out the hardway). Get insurance on this. Verify addresses on cards- it will be hard work but if done properly can be very rewarding. Good luck.

[MeanSEO]

My experience tells me to never use a “free” host.

If you find fraud and any other problems in the future you can just redirect the traffic to someone else or move yourself up in the internet food chain.

When you optimize the page you have on your paid host it's your traffic, do it on a free host and it's not.

This is a good opportunity for you to buy a keyword rich domain name as well for your entry page.

Always stay in control.