My boss received a phone call yesterday from someone who lives, at least the billing address, in California. His phone number has an area code from Kansas. Which now a days isn’t too big of a deal, because area codes can follow the phone.

But the job site is in Connecticut. He wants us to replace 8 to 10 outlets to gfci. He claims his CC won’t work with Square. Have any of you heard this? What was the outcome if you dealt with someone like that?

KOT

My response would be, please have have xxx in cash or check ready.
If you require payment before service, have him send a check you can cash/clear.
Perhaps request local bank's check so that you can walk into a bank and cash it if you worry about fraud.

Yes, I've used Square for about 5-6 years.  I've had many people tell me their credit card wouldn't work on the Square app.

100% of the time, they were wrong.   They were either typing in the number wrong, not putting in the CVC, and if they're not, their bank is blocking the transaction. (Probably because of the drastic differences in states) They're trying to protect him from fraud.  If he calls the number on the back of the card, they'll whitelist the transaction.

If your card works, it works on Square.



On a side note, this is also a known ploy for scammers. (Not saying this guy is trying to scam you) They'll say their card doesn't work with so and so.  Then they'll recommend a credit card service they could use.

Fortunately, they'll typically choose one that you've never heard of from Europe, etc. and it'll immediately send up your red flags.

More information...

The client wants to pay all of it now. But also for whatever reason, not give the job site address yet.

Hopefully my boss would just drop communication with this guy. Not worth the possible $300.

KOT

What is the difference in cost between using Square and PayPal?

100% a scam. This is step by step how these scams always go. And nobody in their right mind would do it like this to begin with.

If your boss is stupid enough to go thru with this, he deserves the charge back he is fixing to get and the loss of merchandise.

[edit] By the way, the charge back he'll get can come from several different ways. But I would bet it will because the card # is stolen.

Wouldn't do it unless it was an existing customer.