Valuable lessons learned here folks. I'm quite sure I will be able to add to this list once I'm all way through this dilemma, however, I felt it best to let you in on some good advice right now:

1. Thoroughly check each credit card order you receive. If you see irregularities as per what I've listed above, refund card right away before they batch. The email address will most likely be fake and you will not be able to reach customer by email.

2. You *may* want to consider blocking out some countries from your program. Many third world countries are infamous for credit card fraud. In this case, cards were all domestic but resellers were from Europe and Asia.

3. If you use Authorize.net you may want to check out their new FraudScreen.net service. If you use another gateway, check to see what fraud prevention services they have in place.

4. If you detect fraudulent orders, contact your merchant account provider right away. They should be willing to work WITH you on problem. Remember, you will have a certain *allowance* in terms of chargebacks/refunds and you may stand to lose your account if you reach or exceed that threshold.

5. Lend a sympathetic ear to those victims whose cards were charged fraudulently. Some, as in my case, will be understandably angry and although that anger should be directed at thieves, they may lash out at you. Act on their refunds immediately!

6. Once you are *sure* a reseller is using this scheme, delete them instantly but make sure to *Save* all their registration and commission data before you do so. These documents may be required in future investigations. I informed each reseller with this notice:

"We have terminated your website and are withholding commission payment pending investigation of fraudulent orders emanating from your website. Authorities in all countries involved have been given complete documentation."

This way, in slight event they are innocent (my guys certainly weren't), you haven't technically accused them. You might want to contact your attorney before officially notifying them.

It's almost inconceivable to me that even most desperate thief would resort to buying (or hacking) stolen credit card information only to use it in such a way as to expect a financial reward 1-2 months later when there is a better-than- average chance they will be caught, not paid at all and reported to applicable authorities. These morons did however, cause me great grief, which has only just started, and which you can probably avoid altogether.

Just as I was putting finishing touches on this article, I received an email from a friend and fellow affiliate program manager who was concerned about fraudulent orders and guess what? She had same thieving resellers as I had!

Considering that this appears to be a growing problem, it is my hope that you will take my advice to heart before you become a victim of The Latest, Not-so-Greatest dotCon Game!

Rick is the author of 3 top-selling eBooks at: http://www.interniche.net/ebooks.htm and the purveyor of those amazing traveling billboards called I.D. IT! Plates: http://www.iditplates.net

For example, instead of just targeting females aged 25-39 years, you will need to find right promotional vehicle that matches your market of professional females, 25-39 years of age, fashion-conscious, with a high disposable income.

When do Your Customers Buy?

Buying patterns are often closely related to a customer’s lifecycle stage. Important ‘rites of passage’ occasions are moving out of parental home, marriage or change in employment.

By understanding different lifestyle factors that may affect your customer’s buying patterns, you will be able to target your customers through more appropriate advertising (eg: Back to School).

How Satisfied are your Customers after Purchase?

Research has found that repeat and referral business typically account for 60-90% of revenues. The value of loyal customers and word-of-mouth endorsements should never be underestimated.

For a customer to recommend your product and use you again, it is crucial that every contact you have with your customer is satisfactory.

The best way to find out your level of customer satisfaction is to ask them. If you have a small client base, this is a relatively easy procedure, but if you have a large customer base and different staff attending to their needs, a market research study will need to be implemented.

How do you conduct Customer Satisfaction Research?

There are two ways – you can conduct research in-house or you could commission a market research agency.

Conducting research yourself is advisable if you have lots of time, you feel knowledgeable and confident about questionnaire/research design and data analysis. Remember, conducting market research is a lot harder than it looks. Therefore, you will need to invest time and money reading books on how to conduct research.

If you choose to commission a market research agency, there are several things you can do to cut costs. Write a draft of your questionnaire and/or use a freelance market research consultant or small agency who charge a more competitive fee.

All in all, communication is foundation of customer service. It is only through listening to your customers that you can meet their needs and ensure your success.