How Ekho Protects Your Dealership from Fraud

Fraud is every dealer's nightmare.

The thought of delivering a vehicle to someone using stolen credentials, fake documents, or fraudulent payments keeps many dealership owners up at night. For some, the experience has already left scars—costly lessons that make dealers hesitant to embrace online or interstate sales. And as digital retail grows, so do the risks—but fortunately, so does the sophistication of fraud prevention technology.

At Ekho, we've built our entire platform around one core principle: stopping fraud before it ever reaches your dealership. Our multi-layered fraud detection system uses the same advanced technology and machine learning techniqies leveraged by the nation's largest auto retailers, combined with human expertise and dealer-friendly verification tools.

The Challenge: Online Vehicle Sale Fraud is Evolving

Today's fraudsters aren't just using stolen credit cards anymore. They're creating synthetic identities, using sophisticated device spoofing, and exploiting weaknesses in traditional verification processes. A single fraudulent transaction can cost a dealer tens of thousands of dollars—not to mention the time, legal complications, and reputation damage that follows.

The good news? Modern fraud prevention has evolved too. When implemented correctly, it can catch fraudulent buyers before they even submit a financing application, protecting dealers without creating friction for legitimate customers.

Ekho's Four Pillars of Fraud Protection

1. Real-Time Risk Intelligence

Every buyer interaction is analyzed the moment they visit our checkout platform. Our system creates a unique "fingerprint" from their device, network, and behavior patterns, instantly flagging suspicious activity like:

• Known fraudulent devices attempting new purchases
• VPN or proxy usage designed to mask true location
• Robotic behavior suggesting automated form filling with stolen data
• Velocity patterns indicating coordinated fraud attempts

2. Advanced Identity Verification

We don't just collect documents—we verify them against national databases and registries. Every buyer must provide a government-issued ID, which our system inspects for:

• Authentic security features and formatting
• Validation against DMV and national ID databases
• Consistency between uploaded information (including bank account details) and application details
• When needed, live selfie verification to ensure the person matches their ID

3. Secure Payment Validation

Our payment verification goes far beyond basic processing. For every transaction, we:

• Verify bank account ownership for ACH payments (our preferred method due to its fraud-resistant, non-reversible nature)
• Cross-reference payment details with network databases
• Monitor for suspicious payment behavior and multiple failed attempts
• Use vendor-guaranteed payment methods whenever possible

4. Expert Human Review

Technology is powerful, but human expertise is irreplaceable. Our fraud analysts manually review every flagged case, sometimes conducting video calls with customers to verify their identity. No transaction proceeds until it's been fully cleared by our team.

What This Means for Your Dealership

Before you ever meet a buyer, they've already passed through multiple security checkpoints. By the time someone is approved for vehicle delivery, they've been:

• Screened against fraud databases and watchlists
• Verified through government ID validation
• Confirmed via secure payment methods
• Manually reviewed by fraud experts when needed

Plus, you maintain final control. We provide you with all buyer verification documents before delivery, so you can perform a final ID check if desired. Our support team is always available if anything seems off during the handoff process.

Your Peace of Mind is Our Priority

Fraud prevention isn't just a feature at Ekho—it's fundamental to everything we do. We've invested heavily in building a system that protects dealers without creating unnecessary friction for legitimate buyers. The result is a streamlined process that gives you confidence in every transaction.

Every dealer partnership begins with trust, and that trust is built on security. When you work with Ekho, you're not just getting a financing platform—you're getting a comprehensive fraud prevention system that has your back.

Want to learn more about how Ekho's fraud protection can safeguard your dealership? Book a demo for a detailed walkthrough of our security measures and see our fraud dashboard in action.