Why do you require switching to "Manual Capture"? Won't that create more work for me?
Not at all. Switching to Manual Capture is the secret to saving money, and we automate the work for you.
- Without ApexGuard: If you capture payment immediately and then refund a fraudster, you lose the transaction fee (usually 2.9%).
- With ApexGuard: We check the order before the money is taken. If it's fraud, we "Void" it. You pay $0 fees.
- The Automation: You don't need to click anything. We automatically capture safe orders instantly. We only pause the risky ones.
Will this annoy my legitimate customers?
No. The vast majority (approx. 95-98%) of your customers are "Low Risk" and won't experience delays. Verification emails only go to orders flagged as medium or high risk. Legitimate customers complete verification in about 30 seconds, while fraudsters typically abandon the process.
How is this different from Shopify Flow or standard automation?
You can use Flow, but that approach costs money and time. Flow handles simple approvals/cancellations but struggles with gray-area orders, leaving merchants with manual review work. ApexGuard automatically challenges customers, verifies identity using card or bank details, and makes decisions without merchant intervention.
How does the verification actually work? What do my customers see?
The system uses a dynamic "Smart Challenge" engine with order-specific data. For credit card payments, it may ask for the last 4 digits, transaction amount, or card type. For PayPal/Apple Pay, behavioral questions about location or phone country code appear instead. For Shopify Payments & Stripe users, a bank statement code verification option provides ultimate security. These verified answers create "Compelling Evidence" for chargeback disputes.
What happens if a customer ignores the verification email?
You set the rules. Most merchants enable "Auto-Cancel": unverified orders are automatically voided within a timeframe you choose (e.g., 72 hours), and inventory returns to stock.
Can I decide which orders get held, besides Shopify's risk flags?
Yes, you have full control. Beyond Shopify's automatic handling, you can create custom manual rules. Examples include forcing verification for orders over $500, specific product categories, or new customers while auto-approving returning customers.
Does ApexGuard take a percentage of my sales?
Absolutely not. Unlike other fraud solutions that charge per transaction, ApexGuard charges a flat monthly subscription based on order volume, keeping your margins intact.
Does it work with Shopify Payments and Stripe?
Yes, it integrates seamlessly with Shopify Payments, Stripe, and major payment gateways through direct Shopify order flow integration.
Do I need coding skills to install this?
None at all. The setup takes about 2 minutes. Simply enable the app embed for blocklist functionality and adjust payment capture settings.
Can I customize the verification email?
Yes. You can customize the subject line, body text, and logo to match your brand's voice.
Can I block people from specific countries or bad IP addresses?
Yes. The blocklist feature blocks by country or IP address. You can also auto-cancel orders from problematic email addresses, phone numbers, or shipping locations.
I have a VIP customer who always gets flagged. Can I whitelist them?
Yes. Add their email or details to the allowlist. ApexGuard will auto-approve their orders instantly, disregarding risk signals.