How to block orders placed using VPNs or proxies

Fraudsters often hide their real location by using VPNs or proxies to place fake orders. With a fraud prevention system, you can automatically detect and block such attempts to protect your WooCommerce store.

This use case helps store owners prevent fraudulent purchases by detecting and restricting orders placed through VPNs or proxy connections. (Plugin feature: IP & Proxy Detection)

The Fraud Prevention plugin checks the IP reputation and flags or blocks suspicious traffic, reducing chargebacks and order manipulation.

Business Impact: Protects against high-risk orders, reduces refund costs, and keeps operations safe.

Preconditions

1. Fraud Prevention For WooCommerce plugin is installed and activated.
2. VPN/proxy detection is enabled within the plugin’s Risk Rules.
3. Test account or staging site recommended before live rollout.

Step-by-Step Instructions

Step 1: Access Fraud Prevention Settings

• Log in to your WordPress dashboard.
• Navigate to: Dotstore → Settings → Fraud Prevention.

Step 2: Configure VPN/Proxy Blocking Rule

• Open the Rules tab from the top menu.
• Find the 'IP, Billing and Shipping Address-based Rules' section

• Toggle the setting 'Check Customer behind Proxy or VPN' to Enabled.

  

Step 3: Save and Apply

• Click Save Changes.
• The system will now actively scan order IP addresses for VPN or proxy use.

Step 4: Frontend Checkout (User Experience)

• If a customer tries to place an order using a VPN/proxy, they will see an error notice like:

  “Orders cannot be placed from your current network.”

Alternate Flows

1. Allow but Flag

   Instead of blocking, you can allow the order but flag it for manual review.

2. Whitelist Exceptions

   Trusted corporate VPNs can be whitelisted so genuine customers aren’t blocked.

Expected Outcome

• Fraudulent orders from VPN/proxy connections are blocked or flagged.
• Store security improves, and refund/chargeback rates decrease.
• Customers placing genuine orders without VPNs are unaffected.