Bridal Store Scam Alert: What You Need to Know to Protect Your Business
Bridal Industry Scammers Are on the Loose
WANTED: Individuals posing as Gravity and Clover. Known for fake contracts, phony refunds, and vanishing with your hard-earned cash. Last seen in inboxes of bridal store owners just like you.
Heads up! If you process payments with Gravity—or through Poppy, since we partner with Gravity—this is for you. Gravity has flagged an uptick in scam attempts targeting small businesses, so we are passing along the info.
As if running a bridal business wasn’t hard enough, now you’ve got to stay alert for fraudsters who are sharpening their tricks every day. Let’s breakdown what to watch for and how to prevent your store from becoming their next victim.
Gravity and Clover Imposters
Here’s the low-down—real people are calling and visiting businesses, pretending to represent Gravity or Clover. In a matter of minutes, they’ll convince you that your Clover device needs an upgrade, slap a fake contract in front of you, and take your money before you even know what hit you. All of a sudden, you’ve entered a contract with an entirely different payment processor and are left to pick up the pieces.
Bridal boutiques, in particular, have become a new target of these schemes—whether in person or over the phone.
Two Common Tactics:
- The Refund Scam
Imposters will call your business insisting that your device needs a “recalibration” or “functionality check”. Then, against your better judgement, they’ll secretly issue themselves a refund. Just know—Gravity will never ask you to process refunds or punch in codes for a terminal “test”.
- The $850 Scam
The infamous $850 scam has been gaining traction and popularity amongst scammers. They will entice you with an $850 credit for sending over your statement—this is ironic because Gravity sends you your statements, don’t fall for it!
These are real situations happening to real people—prepare and protect your business!
Tips to Stay Safe
- Don’t Hand Over Your Terminal—if it gets into the wrong hands, your brides’ data and sensitive business information are at risk.
- Don’t Be Afraid to Hang Up—if it doesn’t feel right, end the call and contact your processor for support. If you process with Gravity, contact support here.
- Don’t Fall for Refunds—if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.
- Do Stay Vigilant in Training Your Staff—these scammers feed on naivety for terminal and system access. Keep your team armed and in the loop.
- Do Reach Out to Your Processor Right Away—if you suspect trouble, don’t hesitate to contact your payment processor to help you through these tricky times.
We’re Here for You!
If you’re a Poppy user and/or process with Gravity, be sure to check the Gravity Scam Awareness page frequently for live updates. Gravity’s keeping you in the loop with real-time updates and real stories from business owners just like you.
If you suspect that you’ve been scammed and process payments with us, get in touch with Gravity directly and immediately. Call: (866) 701-4700.
Interested in making the switch to Poppy? Book a demo or start here with our Get Started form.
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