SEPA Direct Debit offers convenience but exposes merchants to fraud because payments take about five days to confirm. Many businesses must fulfill orders before receiving bank approval, especially in fast‑moving industries like food delivery or digital goods. Fraudsters exploit this delay by using stolen or invalid account details to receive products without paying. At checkout, they appear legitimate, but the delayed failure notice leaves merchants absorbing losses. This makes SEPA Direct Debit a high‑risk payment method without stronger identity verification and fraud protection in place.

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