6 pre-built Shopify Flow templates for return fraud prevention
RefundSentry has supported Shopify Flow triggers since launch. Merchants could build automations around high-risk returns, blocklisted customers, and scoring events. The problem was the blank canvas. Building a workflow from scratch requires knowing what's worth building in the first place.
Most merchants aren't fraud analysts. They don't intuitively know that tagging high-risk orders for review, alerting Slack on blocklisted customer purchases, or auto-tagging repeat returners are all high-value automations. They need a starting point.
Today we're shipping 6 pre-built Flow templates that encode proven anti-fraud patterns. Each one installs with a single click from Shopify's Flow template library.
Why templates matter
Shopify Flow is powerful, but the blank canvas problem is real. You open Flow, see "Create workflow," and the question is always: what workflow?
Templates solve three things at once.
Faster time to value. A merchant who installs RefundSentry at 2pm can have automated fraud workflows running by 2:05pm. No configuration, no guesswork.
Best practices encoded. These templates reflect patterns we've seen work across hundreds of stores. The tag names, trigger conditions, and action choices are battle-tested rather than guessed.
Discoverability. Templates appear in Shopify's Flow template library. When a merchant searches "fraud," "returns," or "risk" in Flow, RefundSentry templates surface alongside native Shopify ones. That's distribution you can't buy with ads.
The 6 templates
1. Hold high-risk returns for review
Trigger: high-risk-return. Action: add order tag REVIEW-NEEDED.
The most fundamental fraud workflow. When RefundSentry scores a return as high-risk, this template tags the order so your fulfillment team knows to pause and review before processing the refund.
Use this if your team works refunds from the Shopify orders list. The tag makes risky returns visually distinct and filterable.
2. Alert team on blocklisted customer orders
Trigger: blocklisted-customer-order. Action: send internal email notification.
When a previously blocklisted customer places a new order, your team gets an immediate email alert. An early warning system for known abusers trying again.
Pair this with the fulfillment hold template (#6) for a two-layer defense: team is notified, and the order is flagged.
3. Tag customers after high-risk returns
Trigger: high-risk-return. Action: add customer tag HIGH-RISK-RETURNER.
RefundSentry already auto-tags customers with risk tiers (refundsentry:high-risk). This template adds a supplementary tag that's more descriptive for teams filtering customer lists. The tag persists on the customer profile, so segmenting high-risk customers for marketing exclusions or review queues stays simple.
4. Notify Slack on high-risk returns
Trigger: high-risk-return. Action: send Slack message.
For teams that live in Slack. The message includes order number, customer name, risk score, and the top signal. Enough to decide whether to act without leaving Slack.
5. Flag repeat returner orders
Trigger: high-risk-customer-order. Action: add order tag REPEAT-RETURNER.
Different from template #1. This triggers on new orders from customers who already carry a high-risk profile, before they even file a return. When a known serial returner places an order, the tag appears immediately so your team can add extra scrutiny at fulfillment.
Proactive prevention. You're not waiting for the return to happen.
6. Hold blocklisted customer orders
Trigger: blocklisted-customer-order. Action: add order tag HOLD.
The strictest template. A blocklisted customer places an order, it gets tagged HOLD immediately. Combined with your fulfillment workflow (most teams exclude HOLD-tagged orders from auto-fulfillment), that effectively pauses the order for manual review.
Use this for customers you've confirmed as abusive. Blocklist plus hold ensures you don't accidentally ship to a known bad actor.
How to install
- Shopify Admin > Flow > Templates
- Search
RefundSentry - Click the template you want
- Click Install
- Workflow is live immediately
No configuration needed for the basic versions. Each template is fully editable after install. Change tag names, swap email for Slack, adjust conditions, or chain additional steps.
Combining templates
Templates layered together do more than each alone. Three combinations we recommend:
Standard stack (most merchants). Template #1 (hold high-risk returns) plus Template #4 (Slack notifications). Every high-risk return gets tagged for review and your team gets a ping.
Proactive stack (high-volume stores). Template #5 (flag repeat returner orders) plus Template #2 (alert on blocklisted orders) plus Template #6 (hold blocklisted orders). Known risky customers are flagged at order creation, before the return.
Full defense stack. All 6 running simultaneously. High-risk returns tagged and Slacked. Repeat returners flagged on new orders. Blocklisted customers trigger email and order holds. Visibility at every stage.
Customization ideas
Templates are starting points. Common customizations:
Change tag names to match your existing workflow. If your team already filters by FRAUD-REVIEW instead of REVIEW-NEEDED, just edit the tag action.
Add conditions to narrow the trigger. Only notify Slack for returns above $100. Only hold orders from blocklisted customers with more than 3 prior orders.
Chain additional actions. After tagging an order, also send an email to your fraud team lead, create a task in your project management tool, or update a Google Sheet.
Route by risk tier. Two versions of a template, one for HIGH-risk returns (Slack + tag + hold) and one for MEDIUM-risk returns (tag only). Keeps alert fatigue down while still catching medium-risk signals.
For existing Flow users
If you've already built RefundSentry workflows manually, these templates won't conflict. Flow handles duplicate actions gracefully. If an order is already tagged REVIEW-NEEDED by your custom workflow, the template action is a no-op.
That said, audit your existing workflows against these templates to avoid redundant notifications. Nobody wants two Slack messages for the same event.
Getting started
The 6 Flow templates are available now for all RefundSentry merchants. They work with any Shopify plan that supports Shopify Flow (Basic and above). See pricing.
Search RefundSentry in your Flow template library to install. Your first automated fraud response workflow can be running in under a minute.