08
TL;DRChargebacks on instantly delivered keys → risk scoring at checkout, a single-use key vault and a hold queue → honest buyers get keys at once, risky orders wait for review.
- Role
- Full-Stack Engineer
- Client
- Digital goods retailer
- Year
- 2025
- Stack
- Next.js, Node.js, PostgreSQL, Stripe
In one paragraph
Instant key delivery for honest buyers, a manual hold for risky orders. Legitimate buyers get keys immediately; risky orders wait for a human instead of becoming chargebacks.
Context
Digital keys are the most chargeback-prone product there is: delivery is instant and irreversible, and the store had no fraud team.
Problem
Every chargeback meant a lost key and a fee. Holding every order would kill conversion.
What I did
- 01
Risk scoring at checkout
Velocity, mismatched geo and disposable-email signals route each order to instant delivery or a manual hold.
- 02
Key vault
Single-use reveal with a full audit trail of who saw which key and when.
- 03
Held-order workflow
Customer notification, review queue and auto-refund on expiry, so no order stays in limbo.
Stack
- Next.js
- Node.js
- PostgreSQL
- Stripe