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Merchants who accept credit card-not-present transactions are at a higher risk of receiving a fraudulent sale than a card present merchant. Criminals do not have to identify themselves or physically present a credit card to be swiped. Online purchases, phone orders, and catalog sales are examples of when a credit or debit card would be keyed-in, not swiped. These card-not-present merchants must take special precautions to ensure they will not be the next victims of credit card fraud. Here are some things to look for when accepting card-not-present (CNP) transactions.

First Time Shopper
Ecommerce merchants, phone order merchants, and catalog sales merchants should always be wary of first time customers. Criminals are always looking for new victims to scam. Ensure that you are using the AVS, or address verification system, and the card security code (CVV2) to reduce your chances of getting stiffed.

Unusual Orders
If you receive an order that is larger than normal, or an order that includes a lot of the same item: be suspicious. Using the same card for multiple orders in a short amount of time should also cause an alert. Criminals succeed at credit card fraud by ordering big and fast before a card can be shut down. Criminals also intend to re-sale their stolen goods. The bigger inventory they have, the better chances they have on the street.

Big Ticket Items
Criminals love to use stolen or counterfeit credit cards to obtain big-ticket items. Big- ticket items will have the largest resale value and make them the most profit.

Rushed Orders
Any time a customer requests “rushed” or overnight delivery take notice. Criminals need to have their stolen goods delivered fast before the card is alerted to authorities and shut down.

International Shipping
International orders are a big red flag because AVS cannot validate addresses outside of the United States. Canada and the United Kingdom are an exception.

Unusual Shipping
Be on the look out for transactions placed on multiple cards with one shipping address. Or, multiple shipping addresses for transactions placed on one card. Unusual shipping could indicate a ring of counterfeit activity.

Similar Account Numbers
Criminals can create counterfeit credit cards using illegal software. Many times these programs create account numbers that are closely related. Take the time to look closely at account numbers and note similarities.

Single IP Address
If you receive transactions from multiple cards from a single IP (Internet Protocol) address, take a closer look. Criminals with stolen or counterfeit credit cards will often “run” them through the same computer.

Free Email Accounts
Fraudsters utilize free email accounts to use in the check out process because there are no records or audit trails leading back to their identity. There is no billing relationship or verification of the person who has opened the email account.

Card-not-present fraud is popular among credit card criminals because their identity is anonymous and they do not physically have to present a credit card to be swiped. The best things a CNP merchant can do to protect themselves is be aware of suspicious orders, utilize the AVS, and always ask for the CVV2 security code. If you are in doubt, you can always ask for an alternative payment.

When giving a presentation props are usually a good idea. They grab the audience’s attention, give a visual representation and they add life to what could be yet another dreaded mandatory meeting. When are they not a good idea… when they are not rehearsed.

Using supportive material and visual aids during a presentation often proves awkward for speakers who lack practice in coordinating what they do at the podium with what they say. Rehearsal is the only solution for this. To arrive at a podium without ever having pressed the projector on cue is taking a foolish chance.

Rehearsal with visual aids should include thorough familiarization with the content of each individual aid, and actual practice in the use of equipment or performance of an action. If a blackboard illustration is to be drawn, it should be practiced at least once on the blackboard to be used in the actual presentation. If a movie or film strip is to be shown, preview it before presenting it.

Many presenters may also overlook what use to be the most commonly found prop, the microphone. However, you would be surprised at the amount of people that are unduly influenced by the presence of a microphone. With the modern equipment and techniques available today, it is often unnecessary to use one. Sound engineers, when present, give all of the necessary instructions and signals, and monitor and adjust the equipment to fit the individual. With public address systems, trainers will hear their own voices and be able to adjust position for optimal speaking distance. However, not all situations offer these modern conveniences. If the trainer feels uncomfortable using a microphone, it is doubly critical that the rehearsal include it, or a model if a real one is not available.

The pause is a powerful, though underutilized presentation tool.

There are several reasons why pauses are effective in presentations. First, pauses give your audience a chance to think about and absorb what you just said. Pausing also gives you a chance to breathe properly.

Pauses can also help you eliminate “ums” and “ahs” that tend to creep into your presentation when you are not sure what’s coming next. If you replace your “ums” and “ahs” with a pause while you think of what to say next, you will sound more confident and the audience won’t be distracted.

Additionally, pauses convey confidence – powerful people pause. They have so engaged the audience that people are waiting eagerly for their next words.

How long should you pause? Enough that you can catch your breath and the audience can absorb what you’ve just said, but not so long that they will think you’ve forgotten what to say next. Keep in mind that it will feel longer to you than it does to the audience – record yourself so you hear long it sounds.

And if you smile confidently when pausing for a few seconds, the audience will see that it’s just a pause and that you didn’t lose your place. If you do it well, they won’t even be conscious that you’re pausing and it will just be a natural part of your presentation.

The next time that you have to give a presentation, try pausing rather than rushing from one sentence to the next – you’ll become a more powerful and effective presenter.