Everything you need to know about blacklisting malicious users in WooCommerce

Managing a WooCommerce store means safeguarding your business from fraudulent activities and ensuring a smooth shopping experience for genuine customers. Online shopping has its dark side, with savvy thieves scheming to bilk retailers, causing chaos and financial losses with each unauthorized purchase. Learn how to protect your store with the WooCommerce blacklist feature to block fraudulent users and keep your business secure.

Threats don’t stand a chance against our safeguard. We detect and block suspicious email addresses, phone numbers, and IPs to keep our store secure. Whether you need a light touch or a full-scale overhaul, WooCommerce gives you the flexibility to craft your e-commerce solution, courtesy of user-friendly code snippets and dedicated plugins. Security-minded businesses can finally relax. These tools enable you to efficiently clamp down on unwanted transactions, building bridges of trust with your customers.

For an even smoother shopping experience, consider using the Currency Switcher for WooCommerce plugin, which allows customers to browse and pay in their preferred currency. By offering flexible pricing options alongside security measures, you can create a seamless and secure shopping environment for your customers.

To provide a safe and reliable online shopping environment, we need to identify and exclude malicious users who might compromise it expertly. Here’s the lowdown on the must-have tools and strategies for keeping your WooCommerce store safe from fraud through blacklisting.

Reasons To Blacklist Malicious Users In WooCommerce

Fraud Prevention

Preventing fraud protects our store from financial losses. By using the WooCommerce blacklist to block malicious users with suspicious email addresses, phone numbers, or IP addresses, we minimize the risk of unauthorized transactions. For more strategies on safeguarding your store, check out these WooCommerce security tips to protect your online business from potential threats.

Policy Violations

Enforcing store policies maintains operational integrity. We utilise the WooCommerce blacklist to block malicious users who refuse to receive orders or engage in disruptive behavior, ensuring a respectful shopping environment.

Repeat Offenders

Reducing repeat offenders safeguards our revenue and operations. The WooCommerce blacklist allows us to block malicious users who frequently return products or abuse payment methods, preventing ongoing issues.

Security and Reliability

Enhancing security builds customer trust. By implementing the WooCommerce blacklist to block malicious or spammy users, we strengthen our store’s defenses, ensuring a reliable shopping experience.

Methods To Blacklist Scammers

Implementing effective blacklisting methods safeguards our WooCommerce store from fraudulent activities and ensures a secure shopping environment.

By Email Address

We utilise the WooCommerce Blacklist Manager to block malicious users based on their email addresses. Administrators can manually add specific emails or automate the process by marking addresses as potential fraud. Additionally, wildcard characters enable us to block multiple email variations simultaneously, enhancing our security measures.

By IP Address

Blocking malicious users by IP address is streamlined through the WooCommerce Blacklist Manager. This tool allows us to restrict access from suspicious IPs, preventing unauthorised orders and reducing fraudulent activities. By filtering out high-risk IP addresses, we maintain the integrity of our store.

By Location

We enforce location-based blacklisting by specifying malicious users addresses, including street, city, province/state, and country. This method ensures that orders from regions with high fraud rates are automatically blocked, protecting our revenue and operational efficiency. 

By Phone Number

Using the Blacklister for WooCommerce, we block malicious users based on their phone numbers. This plugin supports exact and partial matches through regular expressions, allowing us to prevent orders from users with suspicious phone details. We appreciate Dustin Robinson’s contribution to enhancing phone number blacklisting capabilities.

Implementing Blacklist In WooCommerce

Implementing a WooCommerce blacklist enhances your store’s security by preventing unwanted transactions. Aelia utilise various tools and methods to effectively manage and enforce blacklisting rules.

Aelia Blacklister for WooCommerce

Aelia Blacklister for WooCommerce enables a comprehensive configuration of rules to block orders from specific users. The WooCommerce blacklist can filter malicious users based on:

• Name and Surname
• Address: Street, postcode, city, province/state, country
• Email Address
• Phone Number
• IP Address

How to Set Up Aelia Blacklister for WooCommerce

Setting up Aelia Blacklister is a straightforward process, allowing store owners with minimal technical knowledge to enhance security by blocking fraudulent customers.

Step 1: Install the Aelia Blacklister Plugin

This step involves downloading, uploading, and installing the Aelia Blacklister plugin into your WooCommerce store. Let’s break it down:

Part 1: Download the Plugin

Visit the Aelia Website:

To begin, visit the official Aelia website. This is the safest way to get the latest and most reliable version of the plugin.

Purchase or Get the Plugin:

If the plugin isn’t free, make sure you have completed the purchase before proceeding. After the payment process, you’ll be able to download the plugin ZIP file to your computer.

Download the ZIP File:

Once you have access, click on the Download button. A ZIP file containing all the plugin’s files will be saved to your computer.

Note: The ZIP file is a compressed archive containing all necessary files to install the plugin.

Part 2: Upload the Plugin to Your WordPress Site

Log Into Your WordPress Admin Dashboard:

Start by logging into the Admin Dashboard of your WordPress website.

Navigate to Plugins:

In the left-hand menu, hover over Plugins, and then click on Add New. This will open the page where you can search for and upload plugins.

Click on Upload Plugin:

On the Add Plugins page, at the top of the screen, you’ll see an option labeled Upload Plugin. Click on this button to proceed with the manual upload process.

Select the ZIP File:

After clicking Upload Plugin, you’ll see a Choose File button. Click this button, and a file dialog will open. Find and select the Aelia Blacklister ZIP file you downloaded earlier.

Install the Plugin:

After selecting the file, click Install Now. WordPress will now upload the plugin file to your website.

Part 3: Install and Activate the Plugin

Wait for the Installation to Complete:

WordPress will begin installing the plugin. This may take a few moments, depending on the size of the plugin and the speed of your connection. Once installation is complete, you’ll see a success message.

Activate the Plugin:

After the installation, you’ll be given the option to Activate the plugin. Click on Activate to enable the Aelia Blacklister plugin on your WooCommerce store.

Confirm Plugin Activation:

Once activated, you will be redirected to the Plugins page where you should now see the Aelia Blacklister plugin listed among your active plugins.

You should also notice a new menu item or a settings option for Aelia Blacklister under the WooCommerce settings menu, indicating that the plugin is successfully installed and active.

Step 2: Set Up Blocking Rules in Aelia Blacklister

Once you’ve installed and activated the Aelia Blacklister plugin, it’s time to configure the rules to prevent fraudulent activities.

1. Block by Name and Surname

How to Block:

In the settings, you’ll find an option to block customers by their full names. Simply input the names (or surnames) of individuals you want to blacklist. You can block specific first names, last names, or combinations.

Why It’s Important:

Some fraudsters may change their contact details (email, phone number, IP) but continue to use the same name. Blocking names ensures they can’t complete transactions, even if other details are modified.

Steps to Block:

• Go to the “Blacklist Customer ” section in the plugin settings.
• Input the full name that you wish to block.
• Click Save or Update after adding the names.

2. Block by Address (Street, Postcode, City, Province/State, Country)

How to Block:

You can block entire addresses, including street, postcode, city, province, and country. This can be helpful for identifying suspicious patterns such as fraudsters using specific fake addresses repeatedly.

Why It’s Important:

Fraudsters sometimes use fake or stolen addresses, especially in regions known for fraudulent activities. Blocking specific addresses helps prevent them from completing purchases using fake information.

Steps to Block:

• In the Address section, enter the full address or parts of it (e.g., postcode, city, etc.) to block.
• You can specify whether to block by street, postal code, or region.
• Click Save after adding the address details.

3. Block by Email Address

How to Block:

Email addresses are commonly used for fraudulent sign-ups and orders. You can block specific email addresses or even entire domains (e.g., *@fakedomain.com).

Why It’s Important:

Many fraudsters rely on disposable or temporary email services to create fake accounts. Blocking emails prevents them from creating new accounts to abuse your store’s offers.

Steps to Block:

• Under Email Address, input the email or domain you wish to block (e.g., *@disposablemail.com).
• You can block a single email or a full domain (e.g., *@example.com).
• Save the changes to apply the block.

4. Block by Phone Number

How to Block:

Aelia Blacklister lets you block specific phone numbers or even area codes. Fraudsters often use fake or stolen phone numbers to make fraudulent purchases, and blocking them ensures these numbers can’t complete transactions.

Why It’s Important:

Fraudulent transactions can involve stolen phone numbers. Blocking numbers associated with known fraudsters adds an extra layer of protection.

Steps to Block:

• In the Phone Number section, input the phone numbers or area codes you want to block.
• You can block individual numbers or entire area codes if you notice a pattern of fraudulent activity from specific regions.
• Click Save after adding the phone numbers.

5. Block by IP Address

How to Block:

This is one of the most effective ways to stop fraudulent users. You can block specific IP addresses or ranges. Scammers often use the same IP address for multiple fraudulent transactions, so blocking these IPs can prevent repeated abuse.

Why It’s Important:

By blocking an IP address, you can prevent fraudsters from accessing your store from the same network. You can also block entire ranges of IP addresses using wildcards for added protection.

Steps to Block:

• Go to the IP Address section in the settings.
• Input the specific IP addresses you wish to block, or use wildcards to block entire ranges.
• For more advanced protection, you can use regular expressions (regex) to block IP patterns.
• Click Save to activate the IP block.

Final Step: Save and Apply Changes

After entering the details for each blocking method, make sure to Save or Update the settings to ensure the changes are applied. It’s important to regularly monitor and update your blacklist to ensure it stays effective against new fraudulent attempts.

Why Use Aelia Blacklister for WooCommerce Compared to Other Plugins?

Aelia Blacklister for WooCommerce stands out among other blacklisting plugins due to its advanced flexibility, ease of use, and comprehensive set of features tailored for WooCommerce store owners. Here’s why you might consider choosing Aelia Blacklister over other options:

1. Customizable Blacklisting Rules
   Aelia Blacklister allows you to block customers based on multiple criteria, such as name, address, email, phone number, and IP address. This level of customization ensures that you can target specific fraud patterns, making it more precise and effective compared to plugins that offer limited blacklisting options.

2. Advanced Matching Capabilities
   Unlike many blacklisting tools, Aelia Blacklister supports both exact matches and partial matches using regular expressions (regex) for names, addresses, and email addresses. This feature provides greater flexibility to capture fraudulent or suspicious behavior, even if only part of the information matches. For example, you can block a specific region or a range of phone numbers, a significant advantage over simple exact matching plugins.

3. IP Address Filtering
   Aelia Blacklister allows you to block IP addresses, including IP address ranges or even entire networks using IP address masks. This is particularly useful when dealing with fraudsters who use multiple accounts from the same location or IP address. Other plugins may only allow blocking by individual IP addresses, making Aelia a more robust solution for larger-scale issues.

4. User-Friendly Backend Interface
   The plugin adds a dedicated menu to your WooCommerce backend where you can easily manage all your blacklisting rules. The intuitive interface means even store owners with minimal technical knowledge can effectively secure their store by blocking fraudulent customers.

5. Customizable Error Messages
   Aelia Blacklister allows you to customize the error message shown when a blacklisted customer attempts to place an order. This personalization ensures that your customers are informed with clear and professional communication, avoiding confusion or frustration during the checkout process.

6. Premium Support and Updates
   With a paid license, Aelia provides 1-year updates and support, ensuring your store remains secure and the plugin stays compatible with future WooCommerce updates. The premium support also guarantees that you can get help if you run into issues while configuring or using the plugin.

7. Affordable Pricing with Free Trial
   For £59.00 (ex. VAT) per year, the plugin offers excellent value considering its robust feature set. Additionally, the 14-day free trial allows you to test out the plugin before making a financial commitment, helping you assess its compatibility with your store and its effectiveness in combating fraud.

8. Security and Reliability
   Aelia Blacklister has earned a strong reputation for security, with a rating of 4.67 out of 5 from user reviews, demonstrating its reliability and effectiveness in blocking fraudulent orders and enhancing store security.

Aelia Blacklister for WooCommerce stands out as a powerful tool for store owners seeking robust fraud protection. Its ability to block customers based on various criteria, coupled with advanced matching methods like regex and IP address filtering, makes it a highly effective solution for WooCommerce stores. Compared to other plugins, Aelia offers better flexibility, a user-friendly interface, and premium support, making it a solid choice for anyone looking to secure their store against unwanted transactions.

To learn more about blocking, check out this guide on how to block email addresses in WooCommerce.