Not Activating Account Automatically - only after clicking a link in Welcome Email

Is there a way to configure Zen Cart so that it doesn't activate a new customer's account automatically upon creation?

But rather only after the customer clicked an activation/validation link in the Welcome Email?

If so, how do I do it?

Main motivation is to avoid hoaxes/spammers who create an account for an email address that is not theirs.

Thanks,
Daniel

That isn't built into Zencart, and, as far as I know, there isn't a mod that will do it, either.

Additionally, if you interrupt the checkout process to force them to verify their email address, you are putting an obstacle in the way of them spending their money with you. Every obstacle decreases the number of sales you'll make.

DrByte:

Additionally, if you interrupt the checkout process to force them to verify their email address, you are putting an obstacle in the way of them spending their money with you. Every obstacle decreases the number of sales you'll make.
Good point.

I was thinking about interrupting only the account creation process, not the checkout.

I know this interruption, even if only for the first ever interaction with my web site, is an obstacle for the prospective customer, but... is this something that has already been tried by e-commerce experts and found to be a real problem?

I noticed that even the exemplary Newegg.com does not use account activation/validation the way I described in my original post. They did introduced CAPTCHA recently, though.

Any additional thoughts or insights?

Thanks,
Daniel

But I would like to be sure that it is at least a real e-mail address of a user.

I do not want, that somebody just mess around my site. When you have a real address logged in, than you do not want to be banned for misbehavior.

I think we need it. Could be optional.