Are unexpected charges a common phishing tactic?

[Bravo]

I have received several emails in the last few months from 'customers' that say they are being charged by my store and want refunds. Since I have no orders under that name I assume this is a common phishing campaign. Right?

[Imogen]

Hey there, @Bravo. Thanks for reaching out to the Shopify Community with your question here. It's nice to meet you!

It's difficult for me to say specifically if this is a phishing scheme or not - but if these customers are reaching out without being able to provide proof of their purchase, then it's likely they're hoping to manipulate you into sending them money, or are trying to get information from you. 

For situations like these, it's always best to be skeptical and ask these individuals to provide proof of their situation. There is nothing wrong with you asking for information like an order number, or examples of products that were purchased in the order, to help legitimize their claims. 

In the situation where you feel that these customers aren't legitimate, you can cease communications with them.

To help you sort through legitimate customers and illegitimate ones, you should consider building an FAQ page for your store. A page like this will allow you to outline what sort of information you expect customers to provide you when reaching out regarding situations related to their orders. You can find more information on building such a page using this resource here.

I'd love to hear more about your business! What sort of products are you selling? How long have you been on the platform? I'd love to explore your store a bit and see if there's any tips and tricks I can provide!