This is actually an old scam, but since FC saw fit to publish this again, I guess it might still be a problem.
RETAIL BULLETIN
New Credit Card Scam Targets Florists
Flowers Canada has learned that a new trend in credit card fraud is targeting florists. Florists are particularly at risk because of their terrific customer service and commitment to problem solving for their customers. Here is how the fraud is occurring.
An order is placed by phone for pickup. As part of the 'gift' they also ask for a certain amount in cash (sometimes several hundred dollars), also to be charged to the credit card they provide over the phone. They might claim that they are going straight to a party and won't have time to stop at the bank machine, or that they want to include the cash in an envelope as a "gift" to go along with a baby or birthday arrangement, etc. They arrive to pick up the flowers (and the cash) and in the cases that have come to our attention, the employee has not asked to see the credit card or had the purchaser sign a receipt.
Of course, when the charge is later disputed (because the card number was either stolen or used without cardholder authorization), the shop is not only out the wholesale cost of the flowers and their labour, but they are now out straight cash as well.
As a general rule, any in-store purchase or pickup should involve the clerk taking an electronic swipe of the card, having the cardholder sign the receipt and verifying that the signature that matches the one on the back of the card. You might also wish to consider a 'no cash' policy in your store to avoid the situation completely. Please advise your staff of this scam and have them call the credit card company or bank if they suspect credit card fraud of any kind.
RETAIL BULLETIN
New Credit Card Scam Targets Florists
Flowers Canada has learned that a new trend in credit card fraud is targeting florists. Florists are particularly at risk because of their terrific customer service and commitment to problem solving for their customers. Here is how the fraud is occurring.
An order is placed by phone for pickup. As part of the 'gift' they also ask for a certain amount in cash (sometimes several hundred dollars), also to be charged to the credit card they provide over the phone. They might claim that they are going straight to a party and won't have time to stop at the bank machine, or that they want to include the cash in an envelope as a "gift" to go along with a baby or birthday arrangement, etc. They arrive to pick up the flowers (and the cash) and in the cases that have come to our attention, the employee has not asked to see the credit card or had the purchaser sign a receipt.
Of course, when the charge is later disputed (because the card number was either stolen or used without cardholder authorization), the shop is not only out the wholesale cost of the flowers and their labour, but they are now out straight cash as well.
As a general rule, any in-store purchase or pickup should involve the clerk taking an electronic swipe of the card, having the cardholder sign the receipt and verifying that the signature that matches the one on the back of the card. You might also wish to consider a 'no cash' policy in your store to avoid the situation completely. Please advise your staff of this scam and have them call the credit card company or bank if they suspect credit card fraud of any kind.
We run the card as a matter of course also. Always have to be thinking I guess...
