In this comprehensive guide tailored for digital commerce, we explore the multifaceted challenges of false declines, their severe consequences, and step-by-step strategies to prevent them.
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November 3, 2023
7 minutes
Shuant Goh
False decline is a growing concern that is undermining the very foundation of online business.
While fraud prevention is a necessary evil, its overzealous execution can lead to an even graver problem.
So, how do you strike a balance between fraud prevention and ensuring a smooth user experience?
In this comprehensive guide tailored for digital commerce, we explore the multifaceted challenges of false declines, their severe consequences, and step-by-step strategies to prevent them.
Join us on a journey to safeguard your brand’s reputation, protect your bottom line, and ensure a seamless digitization process.
Imagine a scenario where a legitimate customer’s online purchase is erroneously declined.
This is the essence of false declines—valid transactions flagged as fraudulent.
In digital commerce, it’s a predicament businesses must confront.
False decline is also known as false positive.
In contrast, false negatives happen when fraudulent transactions occur and are not flagged by the fraud detection system and are allowed to go through.
Both implications are as dire for the business and your bottom line.
False declines stem from several factors, including
Businesses need help to differentiate between legitimate transactions and fraudulent ones.
The staggering cost of false declines serves as a wake-up call for ecommerce or digital commerce to seek the right balance between fraud prevention and customer experience.
The financial toll of false declines is substantial. Legitimate transactions wrongly declined result in chargeback fees and penalties, creating a dent in your bottom line.
According to Aite-Novarica, the cost of false declines comes to $443 billion annually, far outweighing actual credit card fraud (source: Ekata).
Customer trust and loyalty are strongly connected to customer experience.
False declines are bad customer experience. It erodes customer trust and loyalty.
Unhappy customers may take their business elsewhere, leaving you with not only lost sales but a tarnished reputation.
False declines breed customer frustration. Unjustly declined transactions lead to negative experiences and, potentially, scathing online reviews.
The repercussions could cause a ripple effect, driving others away from your business.
When false declines happen, complaints or inquiries from customers regarding transactions that were flagged as suspicious are common.
By providing clear and transparent explanations to customers about why their transactions were flagged and assuring them of the security measures in place, you can help retain customer trust and mitigate frustration.
So, how do you know if you have a rising issue of false declines? While receiving complaints is the most straightforward way of knowing, there are certain signals you can look out for. Such as,
If you have noticed a surge in customers abandoning their shopping carts, it might indicate false declines. Understand the frustration this causes and the subsequent loss in sales
Monitoring declined transaction reports for anomalies is essential. You can also automate the flagging process whenever anomalies are detected for instant manual review.
A sudden, unexplained drop in sales volume could be an ominous sign. You may want to look at the possible cause of false claims of fraud.
Preventing false declines is a crucial task that requires a systematic approach.
A comprehensive suite of solutions plays a pivotal role in this endeavor.
Here’s a step-by-step guide to effectively protect your business from the repercussions of false declines.
Begin by evaluating your current fraud prevention system and identifying any vulnerabilities. Look into your existing tools and policies and gain insights into areas where false declines may be prevalent.
With TrustDecision’s fraud filters, you can identify suspicious behavior without being overly aggressive, allowing legitimate transactions to pass through without interruption.
It is recommended to leverage technology to automate your transaction approvals with rules and models based on risk score while balancing your security measures with a manual review process as needed.
To combat false declines, integrate advanced fraud detection tools that employ cutting-edge technologies such as artificial intelligence and machine learning.
These tools adapt to evolving fraud patterns and accurately distinguish between legitimate and fraudulent transactions.
TrustDecision's AI-powered fraud detection tools are designed to learn from new patterns and behaviors, enhancing the accuracy of fraud identification while minimizing false positives.
Stay vigilant by monitoring transactions in real time, observing user data, and analyzing purchasing habits, locations, devices used, and more.
This proactive approach enables the identification of unusual patterns that could indicate fraud.
TrustDecision’s transaction risk monitoring provides your payment operation teams with critical insights into user data and behavioral analysis.
This data-driven approach ensures that every transaction is scrutinized for signs of fraud, maximizing approval rates and improving transaction security while fighting payment fraud.
Utilize robust device fingerprinting techniques that remain unique and consistent, even when users encounter scenarios such as tampered devices or app reinstalls.
By maintaining a reliable digital signature, you can reduce the likelihood of false declines.
TrustDecision's device fingerprinting solution ensures that even under challenging circumstances.
For instance, even when a device is tampered with, or the operating system is modified, user identification remains accurate, safeguarding transactions from false declines.
Enhance security without inconveniencing legitimate users by implementing multi-factor authentication methods.
These may include biometrics, one-time passcodes, and device recognition to ensure only authorized users gain access.
TrustDecision's multi-factor authentication (MFA) reduces the risk of unauthorized access and protects legitimate transactions.
This added layer of security should only be triggered whenever suspicious behavior is detected to ensure a good user experience.
Develop a strategy for authenticating orders and transparently communicating with customers when a transaction is flagged.
Offer multiple payment options to minimize inconvenience.
Additionally, set up automated rules with a process for manual review when necessary.
TrustDecision's comprehensive solutions enable clear and transparent communication with customers.
In flagged transactions, you can reassure customers of the robust security measures in place, reducing frustration and maintaining trust.
In the dynamic realm of digital commerce, finding a strategic balance between robust fraud prevention and seamless customer experience is critical.
False declines may pose challenges, but they need not hinder your business.
The step-by-step guide will safeguard your brand's reputation, protect your bottom line, and ensure a thriving digital future.
Join us on this journey toward a harmonious coexistence of security and customer satisfaction.
Let’s chat!
Let us get to know your business needs, and answer any questions you may have about us. Then, we’ll help you find a solution that suits you
TrustDecision was established in 2018 in Singapore and has operations in 5 countries serving clients in over 20 countries and their end-customers in over 150 countries. Our technology provides decision-intelligence solutions using Artificial Intelligence (AI), Machine Learning (ML), Big Data and privacy-preserving computing
