Fake COD orders look normal in Shopify until the courier returns them. By then you’ve paid the wrong bill.
The four-layer defense
- Don’t offer COD to toxic pins / SKUs / AOVs
- Verify on WhatsApp with Confirm/Cancel (no OTP)
- Remind once or twice
- Auto-cancel if still pending
Level is built for layers 2–4 (and helps with rules). Overview: how WhatsApp reduces fake orders.
What “fake” usually is
- Typos and recycled numbers
- Impulse orders with zero intent
- Competitor / prank carts during sales
- Addresses that never worked
You don’t need perfect fraud AI on day one — you need intent + reachability before ship.
Ops definition of done
A COD order is shippable only when status is verified (or prepaid). Everything else is pending or cancelled.