Fraud Protection
What to do when someone rejects your lead but actually used it.
What's the problem?
Here's the scenario: you send a lead to a contractor. They reject it — but then they call the client, give an estimate, or even do the work. They got a free lead and you got nothing.
That's fraud. And LeadChuck has a system to catch it.
How to file a fraud challenge
- Go to the lead detail page for the rejected lead
- Click "Challenge Rejection"
- Pick the challenge type:
- ESTIMATE_CONFIRMED — the contractor contacted the client and gave an estimate
- WORK_CONFIRMED — the contractor actually did the work
- Add any details or evidence you have
- Submit
What happens after you file
The contractor gets notified and has 48 hours to respond. Two things can happen:
They admit it ("Agree")
- They get a strike on their account
- They pay a penalty fee ($25+, doubles with each offense)
- You get paid your lead fee
They deny it
- You can escalate to a client survey — we send a one-click email to the client asking if the contractor contacted them or did work
- If the client confirms → contractor gets suspended immediately
- If the client says no → challenge is closed, no action taken
- If the client doesn't respond → our team reviews the case
💡 Pro Tip
The client survey is your strongest tool. If the client confirms work was done, the contractor gets suspended immediately. Don't skip the escalation step if you're sure about the fraud.
The strike system
Penalties get worse with each offense. Here's how it works:
| Strike | Consequence |
|---|---|
| 1st | Warning + penalty fee |
| 2nd | 30-day hold period on all earnings |
| 3rd | 60-day hold period |
| 4th | 90-day hold period |
| 5th | Permanent ban |
The penalty fee starts at $25 and doubles with each strike. That adds up fast.
What if you're wrongly accused?
If you're on the receiving end of a fraud challenge and you didn't do anything wrong:
- Deny the challenge within 48 hours and explain your side
- If it escalates to a client survey and the client clears you, you actually get a credit for the trouble
- If you get suspended, you have 48 hours to file an appeal with evidence
- Appeals are reviewed by our team
⚠️ Don't abuse the system
Only file challenges when you're genuinely sure. False challenges waste everyone's time and damage trust on the platform. If you file bogus challenges repeatedly, it will affect your own account.
💡 Pro Tip
The best fraud protection is prevention. Send leads to contractors with high trust levels, good acceptance rates, and verification badges. Check their profile before sending — a few seconds of due diligence saves a lot of headaches.
Need help with a fraud case?
Email support@leadchuck.com with the lead ID and we'll look into it personally.