In Australia, a small business owner took a stand after catching a customer trying to steal $315 worth of clothing using a credit card scam.
Marisa Taschke, 37, runs a fashion label called The Lullaby Club. This brand, launched with her mother, aims to provide stylish and functional clothing for moms.
Taschke found herself facing a “chargeback” scam. This happens when someone falsely disputes a charge with their bank to get a refund while keeping the item. “Most times, I don’t even bother contesting it because you rarely win,” she shared.
But this time, she was fed up. After discovering the shipping information linked to the scam order, she called the customer’s workplace directly. To her surprise, she was put through to the customer. “I told her that keeping the items would be theft,” Taschke recalled.
Just ten minutes later, the customer called back, crying. She claimed it was her dad’s card and promised to pay for the order. Taschke sent an invoice, and the customer paid without hesitation.
However, Taschke soon learned this wasn’t the first time the customer had pulled such a stunt. A friend in fashion told her the same woman had tried a similar scam with her brand for $175 earlier that year. “It wasn’t an accident; it was just the best story she could come up with when caught,” Taschke said.
After sharing her story online, the customer confessed that she had lied. Taschke later warned her through a TikTok message: “You f—ked with the wrong person today.”
Fraud is becoming more common among small businesses. Taschke noted that several entrepreneurs have reached out to her, sharing similar experiences, with some scams involving thousands of dollars. “People are even trying to charge back for vacations they’ve already taken,” she mentioned.
According to recent research, small businesses lose an estimated $100 billion annually to fraud. Many business owners feel overwhelmed by the current system, which often favors customers over sellers. Taschke emphasized that there are real people impacted by these scams. “When these issues arise, it’s not just a corporate loss; it affects families and livelihoods,” she explained.
Addressing this issue requires more than just awareness; it calls for improved measures from banks and payment processors. As Taschke pointed out, the human element in small businesses shouldn’t be overlooked in favor of easy scams.
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