FORTER REPORT
Coronavirus Impact on
E-Commerce & Fraud
The world has changed dramatically since the outbreak of Coronavirus. As a core part of Forter's mission to empower merchants to confidently grow their businesses based on an ecosystem of trust, Forter has created this weekly report to share insights on consumer behavior and fraud trends during this unprecedented time.
Subscribe for updates and join us for weekly webinars to discuss our key takeaways for the week and join the dialog with other online merchants.
*Data current as of May 3rd
Impact on Transaction Volume by Industry
*Percentage changes reported for each category are the transaction volume for the week ending May 3, 2020, compared to a baseline value which is the median value during the 5 week period between Jan 6–Feb 9, 2020 (Weeks 2-6 of 2020).
Travel
The travel industry – including Online Travel Agencies (OTAs), airlines, ground transportation, and hotels – has been one of the most dynamic categories as the outbreak of Coronavirus persists.
Fluctuations specifically in air travel volume have been to some extent less due to Coronavirus documented cases themselves but more specifically due to formal travel restrictions on incoming travelers from high-risk countries.
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COVID-19 Impact:
Trends in Travel
May 20 | 11am EST
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Online Apparel & Beauty Fraud is Up 9%
Food Delivery is Skyrocketing & It Comes with Fraud
The rapid digital transformation and huge volatility in traffic across many industries, along with the changes driven by cost reduction activities throughout the business sector, generate a lot of uncertainty and operational pressure. Forter provides COVID-19 specific support tools for merchants that are currently facing these challenges. Get in touch with us, subscribe, or register for our webinars to stay up-to-date!
US International Flights:
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Food & Beverage
190%
While many other industries are feeling the pains of dampened consumer demands, merchants in the food and beverage industry are instead seeing an influx in overall demand.
Home Furnishings & Garden
399%
People are investing more time and effort into home improvement projects including “Do It Yourself” (“DIY”) crafting projects and making investments in mattresses and bedding. This is reflected in the upward trend in online shopping at home furnishings and garden stores.
Show Sub-Categories
Show Less
Marketplaces
88%
Show Sub-Categories
Show Less
Digital Goods
Digital goods have shown relative consistency throughout the last month. The spikes seen in the early days of the virus outbreak within this category have stabilized.
Show Sub-Categories
Show Less
Computers
66%
As more individuals are working from home, a continued slight increase in computer transaction volume indicates consumers are still investing more in their home workstations.
Show Sub-Categories
Show Less
Flights
94%
Departures
87%
89%
Arrivals
China International Flights:
92%
Departures
69%
EU International Flights:
92%
Departures
92%
Arrivals
Hotels
81%
Ride Sharing
86%
Suitcases
81%
Week 2
Week 6
Week 13
Week 18
Week 2
Week 10
Week 18
Week 2
Week 6
Week 11
Week 16
Week 2
Week 6
Week 13
Week 18
Week 2
Week 6
Week 13
Week 18
Arrivals
Week 2
Week 6
Week 13
Week 18
Week 2
Week 6
Week 13
Week 18
Week 2
Week 6
Week 13
Week 18
Sneak Peek: Fraud Trends
Promo Abuse:
As merchants across categories realize they need to pivot their business operations to replace lost revenue from closed brick and mortar stores, they very quickly have begun offering promotions for new account openings.
Savvy customers know that by creating a new account, they can take advantage of promotions that would otherwise be unavailable to them as returning customers. Abusers see this as an opportunity to exploit discounts and cash in. Merchant systems unprepared to combat this form of abuse risk forced subsidization of fake accounts and lost revenue.
While not offsetting the pains that many merchants are feeling in the physical world – with their brick and mortar operations being forced to shut down – influxes in online consumer buying patterns have underscored a need for merchants to dynamically digitally transform their business.
Week 2
Week 6
Week 11
Week 15
-80%
-60%
-40%
-20%
20%
40%
60%
Service Chargebacks Compared to Fraud Chargebacks
Many brands in this category, which also includes footwear and sunglasses are pivoting away from placing orders for high-end luxury items given the current climate. Merchants that have been able to ramp up their digital presence to better accommodate customer interactions have seen an influx in consumer activity.
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Show Less
Apparel & Accessories
99%
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Show Less
Mattresses & Bedding
587%
Week 2
Week 6
Week 13
Week 18
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Show Less
Demand and interest in liquor has increased significantly throughout this period. Demand for alcohol is constant and with many bars and many restaurants closing their physical locations, consumers have turned to courier services to deliver alcohol orders.
Liquor
300%
Week 2
Week 6
Week 13
Week 18
The online grocery and delivery category continues to see an increase in transaction volume. Online grocery shopping is likely to persist in the medium-term as an alternative for consumers as fears of Coronavirus persist.
COVID-19 has greatly impacted the travel industry and likewise affected related items that travelers would typically require, including suitcases. Across hotels, ride sharing services and travel-related items, chargeback rates by issue date are spiking due to the significant transaction volume drop.
Beauty
235%
Recent weeks have shown a significant increase in consumers buying skincare products, as individuals now have more time to invest in their skin care routines and large-scale promotions entice shoppers to buy online.
Jewelry and high-end luxury products have seen a steady and consistent increase in consumer transaction volume in this category since week 13, as jewelry brands have slowly started to maximize their online channels. Additionally, with Mother’s Day approaching, many consumers are likely increasing their sparkly gift purchases for Mom with items from this category.
Eyewear
648%
Week 2
Week 6
Week 13
Week 18
Marketplace merchants should be aware of new sellers just joining marketplace platforms. They will promise specific goods, or new items, but they haven’t adopted the same level of service old sellers have. This can lead to rising rates of service or fraud chargebacks that will cause increased strain to businesses’ operations teams.
Groceries & Deliveries
236%
Jewelry
17%
Week 2
Week 10
Week 18
Week 2
Week 10
Week 18
Week 2
Week 10
Week 18
Week 2
Week 10
Week 18
Week 2
Week 10
Week 18
Week 2
Week 10
Week 18
Brands across this category have also resorted to running promotions to drive seasonal activity and demand (including in sunglasses) to compensate for decreases in brick and mortar activity.
Virtual Coins
93%
Week 2
Week 10
Week 18
Video Games
35%
Week 2
Week 6
Week 13
Week 18
Show More
Show Less
Week 2
Week 10
Week 18
Computers
66%
As more individuals are working from home, a continued slight increase in computer transaction volume indicates consumers are still investing more in their home workstations.
Show Sub-Categories
Show Less
Week 2
Week 10
Week 18
Food & Beverage
190%
While many other industries are feeling the pains of dampened consumer demands, merchants in the food and beverage industry are instead seeing an influx in overall demand.
Week 2
Week 10
Week 18
Show More
Show Less
Week 2
Week 10
Week 18
Groceries & Deliveries
236%
The online grocery and delivery category continues to see an increase in transaction volume. Online grocery shopping is likely to persist in the medium-term as an alternative for consumers as fears of Coronavirus persist.
Travel
Flights
94%
Week 2
Week 6
Week 11
Week 16
The travel industry – including Online Travel Agencies (OTAs), airlines, ground transportation, and hotels – has been one of the most dynamic categories as the outbreak of Coronavirus persists.
Fluctuations specifically in air travel volume have been to some extent less due to Coronavirus documented cases themselves but more specifically due to formal travel restrictions on incoming travelers from high-risk countries.
Show More
Show Less
Week 2
Week 10
Week 18
Apparel & Accessories
99%
Many brands in this category, which also includes footwear and sunglasses are pivoting away from placing orders for high-end luxury items given the current climate. Merchants that have been able to ramp up their digital presence to better accommodate customer interactions have seen an influx in consumer activity.
Show More
Show Less
Jewelry and high-end luxury products have seen a steady and consistent increase in consumer transaction volume in this category since week 13, as jewelry brands have slowly started to maximize their online channels. Additionally, with Mother’s Day approaching, many consumers are likely increasing their sparkly gift purchases for Mom with items from this category.
Week 2
Week 10
Week 18
Jewelry
17%
Beauty
235%
Week 2
Week 10
Week 18
Recent weeks have shown a significant increase in consumers buying skincare products, as individuals now have more time to invest in their skin care routines and large-scale promotions entice shoppers to buy online.
Marketplaces
88%
Marketplace merchants should be aware of new sellers just joining marketplace platforms. They will promise specific goods, or new items, but they haven’t adopted the same level of service old sellers have. This can lead to rising rates of service or fraud chargebacks that will cause increased strain to businesses’ operations teams.
Show Sub-Categories
Show Less
Week 2
Week 10
Week 18
Digital Goods
Virtual Coins
93%
Digital goods have shown relative consistency throughout the last month. The spikes seen in the early days of the virus outbreak within this category have stabilized.
Show Sub-Categories
Show Less
Week 2
Week 10
Week 18
Show More
Show Less
Computers
66%
As more individuals are working from home, a continued slight increase in computer transaction volume indicates consumers are still investing more in their home workstations.
Show Sub-Categories
Show Less
Week 2
Week 10
Week 18
Week 2
Week 10
Week 18
Groceries & Deliveries
236%
The online grocery and delivery category continues to see an increase in transaction volume. Online grocery shopping is likely to persist in the medium-term as an alternative for consumers as fears of Coronavirus persist.
Travel
Flights
94%
Week 2
Week 6
Week 11
Week 16
The travel industry – including Online Travel Agencies (OTAs), airlines, ground transportation, and hotels – has been one of the most dynamic categories as the outbreak of Coronavirus persists.
Fluctuations specifically in air travel volume have been to some extent less due to Coronavirus documented cases themselves but more specifically due to formal travel restrictions on incoming travelers from high-risk countries.
Show More
Show Less
Week 2
Week 10
Week 18
Apparel & Accessories
99%
Many brands in this category, which also includes footwear and sunglasses are pivoting away from placing orders for high-end luxury items given the current climate. Merchants that have been able to ramp up their digital presence to better accommodate customer interactions have seen an influx in consumer activity.
Show More
Show Less
Jewelry and high-end luxury products have seen a steady and consistent increase in consumer transaction volume in this category since week 13, as jewelry brands have slowly started to maximize their online channels. Additionally, with Mother’s Day approaching, many consumers are likely increasing their sparkly gift purchases for Mom with items from this category.
Week 2
Week 10
Week 18
Jewelry
17%
Beauty
235%
Week 2
Week 10
Week 18
Recent weeks have shown a significant increase in consumers buying skincare products, as individuals now have more time to invest in their skin care routines and large-scale promotions entice shoppers to buy online.
Marketplaces
88%
Marketplace merchants should be aware of new sellers just joining marketplace platforms. They will promise specific goods, or new items, but they haven’t adopted the same level of service old sellers have. This can lead to rising rates of service or fraud chargebacks that will cause increased strain to businesses’ operations teams.
Show Sub-Categories
Show Less
Week 2
Week 10
Week 18
Digital Goods
Virtual Coins
93%
Digital goods have shown relative consistency throughout the last month. The spikes seen in the early days of the virus outbreak within this category have stabilized.
Show Sub-Categories
Show Less
Week 2
Week 10
Week 18
Show More
Show Less
Computers
66%
As more individuals are working from home, a continued slight increase in computer transaction volume indicates consumers are still investing more in their home workstations.
Show Sub-Categories
Show Less
Week 2
Week 10
Week 18
Week 2
Week 10
Week 18
Apparel & Accessories
99%
Many brands in this category, which also includes footwear and sunglasses are pivoting away from placing orders for high-end luxury items given the current climate. Merchants that have been able to ramp up their digital presence to better accommodate customer interactions have seen an influx in consumer activity.
Show More
Show Less
Jewelry and high-end luxury products have seen a steady and consistent increase in consumer transaction volume in this category since week 13, as jewelry brands have slowly started to maximize their online channels. Additionally, with Mother’s Day approaching, many consumers are likely increasing their sparkly gift purchases for Mom with items from this category.
Week 2
Week 10
Week 18
Jewelry
17%
Beauty
235%
Week 2
Week 10
Week 18
Recent weeks have shown a significant increase in consumers buying skincare products, as individuals now have more time to invest in their skin care routines and large-scale promotions entice shoppers to buy online.
Marketplaces
88%
Marketplace merchants should be aware of new sellers just joining marketplace platforms. They will promise specific goods, or new items, but they haven’t adopted the same level of service old sellers have. This can lead to rising rates of service or fraud chargebacks that will cause increased strain to businesses’ operations teams.
Show Sub-Categories
Show Less
Week 2
Week 10
Week 18
Digital Goods
Virtual Coins
93%
Digital goods have shown relative consistency throughout the last month. The spikes seen in the early days of the virus outbreak within this category have stabilized.
Show Sub-Categories
Show Less
Week 2
Week 10
Week 18
Show More
Show Less
Computers
66%
As more individuals are working from home, a continued slight increase in computer transaction volume indicates consumers are still investing more in their home workstations.
Show Sub-Categories
Show Less
Week 2
Week 10
Week 18
Jewelry and high-end luxury products have seen a steady and consistent increase in consumer transaction volume in this category since week 13, as jewelry brands have slowly started to maximize their online channels. Additionally, with Mother’s Day approaching, many consumers are likely increasing their sparkly gift purchases for Mom with items from this category.
Week 2
Week 10
Week 18
Jewelry
17%
Beauty
235%
Week 2
Week 10
Week 18
Recent weeks have shown a significant increase in consumers buying skincare products, as individuals now have more time to invest in their skin care routines and large-scale promotions entice shoppers to buy online.
Marketplaces
88%
Marketplace merchants should be aware of new sellers just joining marketplace platforms. They will promise specific goods, or new items, but they haven’t adopted the same level of service old sellers have. This can lead to rising rates of service or fraud chargebacks that will cause increased strain to businesses’ operations teams.
Show Sub-Categories
Show Less
Week 2
Week 10
Week 18
Digital Goods
Virtual Coins
93%
Digital goods have shown relative consistency throughout the last month. The spikes seen in the early days of the virus outbreak within this category have stabilized.
Show Sub-Categories
Show Less
Week 2
Week 10
Week 18
Show More
Show Less
Computers
66%
As more individuals are working from home, a continued slight increase in computer transaction volume indicates consumers are still investing more in their home workstations.
Show Sub-Categories
Show Less
Week 2
Week 10
Week 18
As COVID-19 continues to impact e-commerce and introduce new fraud attacks, we're here to help. Contact us to learn how Forter can support your business during these challenging times.
ON-DEMAND WEBINAR
COVID-19 Impact:
Trends in Travel
WATCH NOW