Reason code

American Express reason code 193 is used when a cardholder reports a transaction as fraudulent. This means the cardholder claims they did not authorize or benefit from the charge, and suspects that their card information was used without permission.

While some of these disputes stem from actual fraud, many turn out to be misunderstandings—such as forgotten purchases, unrecognized merchant names, or transactions by family members. With proper documentation and fraud controls in place, merchants can often challenge these disputes successfully.

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If the charge was authorized and not fraudulent, provide evidence that the cardholder participated in or benefited from the transaction:

• Submit proof of AVS/CVV match, delivery confirmation, or account login tied to the cardholder
  
  
• Include prior transaction history or communication showing a valid customer relationship

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Prevent fraud-related disputes with strong authentication and customer clarity:

• Use AVS, CVV, and device fingerprinting tools for all card-not-present transactions
  
  
• Make sure your business name is recognizable on billing statements and receipts are sent promptly

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