Guard Your Connect

Product Introduction

1. Guard Your Connect is a real-time fraud detection tool specifically designed for Stripe Connect marketplaces to identify and block fraudulent sellers before they cause financial losses. It analyzes seller accounts, transaction patterns, and risk indicators to prevent chargebacks and fees imposed on platform owners under Stripe Connect's liability terms. The solution operates through Stripe API integration, providing immediate alerts and actionable insights to mitigate risks.
2. The core value lies in protecting marketplace operators from bearing the full financial burden of fraudulent activities conducted by third-party sellers on their platforms. By detecting high-risk sellers during onboarding and transaction phases, it prevents chargeback fees ($15–30 per dispute), lost revenue from refunded transactions, and potential Stripe account restrictions. This directly safeguards revenue streams and reduces operational risks for platform owners.

Main Features

1. Real-time fraud detection scans seller accounts for duplicate email domains, rapid transaction spikes (e.g., €5,000+ in 24 hours), and incomplete onboarding attempts. It assigns risk scores (1–10) to sellers based on patterns like dormant accounts or immediate high-value transactions post-account creation. Automated monitoring operates 24/7 through Stripe API integration.
2. Detailed risk analysis provides granular reports highlighting specific fraud indicators, such as IP mismatches, bulk account creation, or reused payment methods. Users receive actionable recommendations, including one-click seller blocking and transaction pattern visualization tools. Customizable dashboards display flagged accounts categorized as low, medium, or high risk.
3. Instant email alerts notify platform owners when high-risk sellers join or exhibit suspicious behavior, such as processing transactions above predefined thresholds. The system includes workflow tools for manual account reviews, evidence documentation, and bulk seller management. Integration with Stripe data ensures updates reflect real-time transaction and dispute metrics.

Problems Solved

1. Eliminates financial liability for marketplace operators under Stripe Connect’s terms, where platform owners bear all chargeback costs and penalties from fraudulent seller activities. Addresses scenarios like stolen credit card usage by sellers, which typically results in $100+ losses per dispute when factoring in fees and refunds.
2. Targets owners of Stripe Connect-powered marketplaces in industries like e-commerce, freelance services, and digital goods, where multi-party payment flows are common. Specifically serves platforms lacking dedicated fraud analysis teams or custom-built monitoring systems.
3. Prevents common fraud vectors such as "fast-charge attacks" (fraudsters processing stolen cards immediately after account creation) and "shell account" setups (dormant accounts later used for bulk fraudulent transactions). Mitigates risks during seller onboarding and transaction verification phases.

Unique Advantages

1. Specializes in marketplace-specific fraud patterns unlike Stripe Radar, which focuses on general payment fraud prevention. Detects platform-specific risks like seller collusion, duplicate account networks, and onboarding loopholes that bypass standard payment gateways.
2. Offers real-time seller risk scoring based on proprietary algorithms analyzing account creation velocity, transaction timing, and historical dispute data. Includes a "Lifetime" pricing model ($79 one-time) unavailable in subscription-based competitors, reducing long-term costs.
3. Built by a founder with direct experience losing €800+ to Stripe Connect fraud, ensuring workflow alignment with actual marketplace operations. Uses minimal data storage to comply with GDPR and PCI DSS, processing sensitive information transiently via Stripe’s secure API instead of local databases.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

1. How is GuardYourConnect different from Stripe Radar? GuardYourConnect focuses on seller-side fraud patterns unique to marketplaces, such as duplicate account networks and onboarding fraud, while Stripe Radar primarily blocks stolen credit cards. It provides seller-level risk scoring instead of transaction-level analysis, and unlike Radar for Platforms (a Stripe product in private beta), it is immediately available to all users.
2. What types of fraud does GuardYourConnect detect? The tool identifies fast-charge attacks (€500+ transactions within minutes of account creation), duplicate accounts using similar email domains/IP addresses, and dormant accounts showing no genuine activity. It also flags sellers with incomplete KYC documentation or mismatched geographic data between accounts and transactions.
3. Is my data secure with GuardYourConnect? The tool processes data transiently via Stripe’s API without permanently storing sensitive seller information. Only essential metadata like account risk scores and alert logs are retained. All interactions use TLS 1.2+ encryption, and payment processing relies on Stripe’s PCI DSS-compliant infrastructure.