# Protecting from Fraud
Source: https://paymentsandrisk.com/docs/learning-pathways/protecting-from-fraud

Last updated 21 October 2026.

TL;DR

-   Pathway 3 covers what fraud actually looks like for a small business. Three lessons, about 20 minutes
-   Lesson 1 helps you tell stolen-card disputes from real customers disputing real orders
-   Lesson 2 is the free and cheap controls to switch on now. Lesson 3 is the weekly numbers check
-   Finish it and you'll have basic protection in place and know what to watch

This pathway covers what fraud looks like for small businesses and how to protect yourself. Three lessons, about 20 minutes total.

| # | Lesson | What You'll Learn |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **[Fraud Basics](https://paymentsandrisk.com/docs/learning-pathways/protecting-from-fraud/fraud-basics/)** | Check whether your disputes involve stolen cards or real customers |
| 2 | **[Setting Up Protection](https://paymentsandrisk.com/docs/learning-pathways/protecting-from-fraud/setting-up-protection/)** | Free and low-cost tools to enable now: AVS, CVV, velocity limits, billing descriptors |
| 3 | **[Monitoring for Fraud](https://paymentsandrisk.com/docs/learning-pathways/protecting-from-fraud/monitoring-for-fraud/)** | How to check your numbers weekly and spot problems before they become crises |

**Start with Lesson 1:** [Fraud Basics](https://paymentsandrisk.com/docs/learning-pathways/protecting-from-fraud/fraud-basics/)

**After this pathway:** You'll have basic fraud protection in place and know what to watch for. Next, read [Pathway 4: Running Payments Daily](https://paymentsandrisk.com/docs/learning-pathways/running-payments-daily/) to build your operational routine, or explore [Prevent Fraud](https://paymentsandrisk.com/docs/fraud/) for deeper topics.