AmmoReady’s Threat Meter, powered by Sift, helps merchants evaluate potential fraud risks associated with orders or user activity. This tool is a valuable indicator — but it should never be the sole factor used when deciding whether to fulfill an order.
This guide explains how the Threat Meter works and outlines best practices for reviewing potentially suspicious transactions.
How the Threat Meter Works
Powered by Sift
The Threat Meter analyzes customer behavior and risk signals based on global fraud-detection patterns. It is designed to highlight potentially risky orders, not to confirm fraud.
Estimated Email Address Age
One unique metric is the Estimated Email Address Age, which predicts when a customer’s email address was originally created.
This data comes from broad internet signals, not AmmoReady-specific activity.
A newly created email does not automatically mean fraud.
Use this insight alongside other factors such as high order value, unusual shipping details, or AVS mismatches.
Not a Definitive Fraud Tool
The Threat Meter is a guide, not a guarantee.
A “Low” or “Green” rating does not confirm an order is safe.
Always verify details through your payment gateway, which can validate AVS data, billing information, and transaction history.
If the score is Medium or High, or if something simply feels “off,” review the order carefully before fulfilling it.
Why “Green” Doesn’t Always Mean Safe
Fraud in the firearms industry frequently targets high-value, non-FFL items because they can ship directly to a customer’s address. Common targets include:
Optics (scopes, LPVOs, red dots)
Weapon lights and flashlights
Thermal and night vision accessories
High-end accessories that do not require FFL transfer
Even with a Low/Green score, treat large non-FFL orders (often $1,500–$2,000+) as higher risk and review billing, shipping, and gateway/AVS data before shipping.
Best Practices for Avoiding Fraudulent Orders
1. Verify Customer Information
Confirm billing and shipping details follow a normal pattern.
Review the customer name, email, and phone number.
Contact the customer if anything appears unusual.
Request a photo image of the credit card used during checkout.
2. Review Payment Gateway Fraud Settings
Fraud controls are managed by your merchant services provider, not AmmoReady.
Your gateway should offer settings such as:
AVS matching
CVV verification
Address mismatch rules
Chargeback protection
Adjusting these rules can impact checkout behavior, so always test a low-value transaction after making changes.
3. Take Your Time With High-Dollar Orders
Fraudsters frequently target expensive optics and accessories. A brief manual review can prevent major losses.
4. When in Doubt, Ask Your Merchant Services Provider
Your payment processor has the most complete transaction data and can confirm whether a charge looks legitimate.
Optional Setting to Reduce Fraud: Disable Guest Checkout
Most fraudulent attempts are made using guest checkout, since bad actors rarely want to create an account.
If you prefer, you can disable guest checkout entirely:
Settings → Checkout Page → General Options → Disable Guest Checkout → Save General Options
This forces customers to create an account before purchasing, adding an additional layer of friction that deters opportunistic fraud attempts.
Why Distributors Don’t Require Verification
Distributors are not the merchant of record for the final customer and do not have the same fraud-prevention responsibilities as retailers. Because of this, verification falls on the merchant when fulfilling high-risk or high-value items.
Threat Meter Levels
The Threat Meter provides three classifications:
Low
Elevated (Medium)
High
These should be used as one input among many when evaluating an order’s legitimacy.