Visa’s VAMP framework raises stakes for acquirers and merchants

Visa’s newly implemented Acquirer Monitoring Program (VAMP) has officially taken effect, bringing one of the most sweeping overhauls to dispute and fraud oversight in recent years.

VAMP framework raises stakes for acquirers

The global framework consolidates Visa’s previous fraud and chargeback monitoring schemes into a single, stricter system — one that places both acquirers and their merchants under heightened scrutiny.

From 1 October, Visa began enforcing new ratios, thresholds, and regional benchmarks, with acquirers now facing portfolio-level accountability.

If a bank’s overall fraud or dispute levels exceed Visa’s prescribed limits, it may face escalating penalties, from per-transaction fines to mandated remediation plans.

In response, many acquiring institutions are imposing even tighter internal thresholds on their merchant clients to safeguard against potential non-compliance.

According to Visa, the ultimate goal of VAMP is to “flush fraud out of the network faster.” Yet for many in the payments ecosystem, the fine print has sparked alarm.

Zak Matthews, Vice President of Solutions Engineering and Partnerships at Chargebacks911, warns that the new ratios, evidence standards, and evolving exclusion rules are demanding a new level of precision and preparedness.

“The real fright for operators is in the details,” he said. “Visa’s bar for provable, data-backed evidence has never been higher.”

Compelling Evidence

A major feature of the updated framework is its focus on Compelling Evidence 3.0 (CE3.0) — Visa’s new standard for proving the legitimacy of disputed transactions.

To remain compliant, merchants must now compile extensive data sets covering device fingerprints, login histories, account activity, and delivery confirmations.

These data points, when properly submitted, can help exclude qualifying disputes from a merchant’s VAMP ratio.

Visa has also reinforced the importance of early-stage dispute resolution via Rapid Dispute Resolution (RDR) and the Cardholder Dispute Resolution Network (CDRN).

Disputes settled through these systems, along with eligible CE3.0 submissions, may be excluded from reported fraud metrics — but only if acquirers and merchants meet Visa’s strict reporting deadlines.

Fighting Enumeration and Balancing Risk

VAMP also introduces new vigilance requirements around enumeration attacks, which Visa estimates cause losses of more than $1.1 billion annually.

Businesses are urged to implement velocity checks, IP screening, and behavioural analytics aligned with Visa’s Account Attack Intelligence (VAAI) scoring model to mitigate this growing threat.

However, experts caution against overcorrection. Overzealous refund or decline policies can erode customer experience and conversion rates.

Instead, merchants are encouraged to strike a balance — leveraging fraud prevention, pre-dispute routing, and risk analytics to stay compliant without compromising growth.

With enforcement now underway, Visa’s VAMP framework marks a decisive shift towards data-driven accountability. For merchants and acquirers alike, the message is clear: compliance is no longer optional — it’s operational.