VAMP by Visa – New Chargeback Rules 2025

Visa’s VAMP Rules: Chargeback Prevention, Fraud Compliance & What Merchants Need to Know in 2025

The payment industry never sleeps, and in 2025, Visa has made sure of that. With the launch of its new Visa Acquirer Monitoring Program (VAMP), Visa is reshaping the risk and compliance landscape for acquirers and merchants alike.

So what does this mean for your business?

If you’re accepting card payments, especially in high-risk verticals, it’s time to take a hard look at how you handle chargebacks, fraud, and compliance.

What is VAMP?

Visa VAMP (Visa Acquirer Monitoring Program) is a risk control framework launched by Visa in 2025 to monitor and penalize acquirers working with merchants that exceed chargeback or fraud thresholds. It enforces stricter standards through audits, fines, and potential termination from Visa’s network.

Now, acquirers are held to even higher standards. If they’re boarding merchants who regularly exceed thresholds for fraud or chargebacks, they’ll face audits, fines, and even termination from Visa’s network if issues aren’t corrected.

This isn’t just about Visa being tough. It’s about the rising tide of fraud and disputes across the globe, and Visa taking aggressive steps to protect its ecosystem.

The Data Behind VAMP: Why Now?

Visa didn’t introduce VAMP in a vacuum. The surge in chargebacks, the evolution of fraud, and the need for improved identity verification all played a role.

Here’s what the data tells us:

Chargebacks Are Skyrocketing

• Global chargebacks are projected to grow from 238 million in 2023 to 337 million by 2026, a staggering 41% jump.

• U.S. merchants are expected to lose $13.8 billion to chargebacks in 2025.

• For every $1 lost to fraud, merchants spend $4.61 dealing with the aftermath.

Friendly Fraud is Taking Over

• 75%+ of chargeback losses stem from friendly fraud (customers disputing legitimate purchases).

• 43% of consumers admitted to committing first-party fraud, often blaming financial hardship.

AI is Fueling Both Sides

• Fraudsters are now leveraging generative AI for deepfake scams, voice impersonation, and identity spoofing.

• In response, companies like Mastercard are using AI to scan 160 billion transactions a year, assigning real-time risk scores in milliseconds.

3D Secure is Not Optional Anymore

Visa’s VAMP indirectly signals another trend: 3D Secure (3DS) adoption is becoming a best practice – Not a bonus.

• The global 3DS market is projected to grow from $9.75B in 2025 to $31.71B by 2034.

• 92% of UK merchants have already integrated 3DS under PSD2.

• Acceptance rates are highest in Scandinavia, with Finland, Denmark, Sweden, and Norway averaging 83%–86%.

If your checkout still lacks 3DS 2.0, you’re not just risking fraud, you’re risking your merchant account.

How to Stay Ahead (and Stay Compliant)

Visa’s VAMP program is a wake-up call. To keep your business out of trouble, you need:

• Chargeback Prevention: Use tools that flag disputes before they become chargebacks (like RDR, Order Insight, or CDRN).

• Fraud Prevention: Leverage fraud scoring, device fingerprinting, behavioral analysis, and machine learning.

• 3D Secure: Ensure 3DS 2.0 is fully implemented, and customize frictionless flow for VIP customers.

• Monitoring & Reporting: Keep tight logs of fraud/chargeback rates and act before Visa does.

• AI-Driven Tools: Work with AI-powered platforms like Kount and RedShield that tap into global transaction networks to identify fraud patterns and stop abuse before it affects your bottom line.

The future of fraud prevention isn’t passive, it’s proactive. Visa is putting more responsibility in the hands of merchants to prevent fraud at the source, and the tools are now available to do just that.

How FastoPayments Helps You Comply with VAMP

At FastoPayments, we understand that compliance is more than a checklist, it’s your lifeline to long-term growth. That’s why we’ve built our entire service model around helping merchants meet and exceed industry standards like Visa’s VAMP.

Here’s how we do it:

• Chargeback & Fraud Prevention Tools: From real-time alerts to dispute intelligence and AI integrations, we help you catch issues before they spiral. Learn more

• Flexible Merchant Solutions: Whether you’re in a high-risk vertical or scaling internationally, we tailor solutions that fit your exact needs.

• Alternative Payment Method (APM) Integration: Expand your reach and reduce chargebacks with localized APMs, supported by our orchestration layer. Explore APMs

• Orchestration Tools: Smart routing, dynamic 3DS, and intelligent retry logic all working behind the scenes to improve approval rates and reduce risk.

• Expert Guidance: Work with our knowledgeable team of payment professionals who live and breathe compliance, fraud prevention, and merchant strategy. Discover our approach

FastoPayments isn’t just a provider, we’re your risk partner. And that means giving you access to the most advanced fraud-fighting technologies, including AI-driven solutions and global risk insights.

The Bigger Picture

Visa’s VAMP is not just another acronym, it’s a clear sign the payments world is evolving. As fraud becomes more complex and chargebacks more costly, Visa is drawing a line in the sand.

At FastoPayments, we help merchants navigate this evolving landscape with smarter tools and strategic partnerships. Whether you’re dealing with recurring fraud, compliance headaches, or need help integrating 3DS, we’ve got your back.

Let’s stop treating fraud like a cost of doing business, and start treating it like the solvable challenge it really is.

Get in touch and let’s keep your business protected, optimized, and ready for the future.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q: What is Visa VAMP in simple terms?
A: Visa VAMP (Visa Acquirer Monitoring Program) is a 2025 framework that holds acquiring banks accountable when their merchants exceed chargeback and fraud thresholds. It includes penalties like audits, fines, or termination from the Visa network.

Q: How can I reduce chargebacks and fraud in 2025?
A: Use chargeback management tools like RDR, CDRN, and Order Insight, implement 3DS 2.0, integrate fraud prevention AI platforms like Kount or RedShield, and work with a PSP like FastoPayments.

Q: What is 3D Secure 2.0 and why is it important?
A: 3DS 2.0 is an authentication protocol that helps verify cardholders during online payments. It improves security, lowers fraud, and boosts transaction approval rates—especially important under Visa’s VAMP rules.

Q: Is FastoPayments suitable for high-risk merchants?
A: Absolutely. Fasto specializes in high-risk industries and offers tailored solutions to help merchants stay compliant, reduce fraud, and protect their payment ecosystem.