A Visual Guide to Visa's VAMP Rule Changes

The landscape for managing payment fraud and disputes has shifted. 

Visa has updated and consolidated its risk monitoring programs into a single, global framework, the Visa Acquirer Monitoring Program (VAMP). These changes introduce new evaluation methods, stricter thresholds, and faster consequences for both merchants and acquirers.

Understanding these updates is essential for any business that processes transactions. The new rules reflect a significant move by payment networks toward earlier intervention and greater accountability. 

What Changed with Visa VAMP?

Visa has merged several legacy programs, including the Visa Dispute Monitoring Program (VDMP) and the Visa Fraud Monitoring Program (VFMP), into one unified system. This means there is now a single set of global rules and one core ratio used to evaluate performance across the board. This consolidation aims to provide a clearer, more consistent standard for risk management.

Understanding the New Ratio

The new VAMP ratio calculates risk differently from previous programs. It's calculated by dividing the total number of fraud and dispute incidents by the total number of sales transactions.

Here are a few key points about how this ratio works:

• It counts incidents, not dollar amounts. This means that a high volume of low-value disputes can significantly impact your ratio.
• It includes both fraud and non-fraud disputes. All chargebacks, including those labeled "friendly fraud," are included in your total count.
• A single transaction can contribute more than once. A transaction that results in both a fraud report and a dispute can be counted twice, increasing its impact on your ratio.

Lower Thresholds and Faster Timelines

With the new framework come tighter thresholds. Merchants now face an "Excessive" classification if their VAMP ratio exceeds 2.2%. More importantly, this threshold is set to tighten further to 1.5% on April 1, 2026. Acquirers also have new benchmarks, with an "Above Standard" tier at 0.5% and an "Excessive" tier at 0.7%.

These lower limits mean that payment teams must be more proactive than ever. Reactive, manual reviews may no longer be sufficient to identify and address risk patterns before they breach program thresholds.

Prepare for What's Next

The upcoming enforcement milestone in April 2026 underscores the need for proactive preparation. The changes Visa has implemented are not arbitrary; they are a direct response to rising fraud losses and a high volume of disputed transactions. Friendly fraud alone accounts for a significant portion of all disputes.

Payments teams that adapt their strategies now will be better positioned to manage their risk effectively and avoid potential penalties. Continuous monitoring and early intervention are no longer just best practices. They are essential components of a modern risk management program.

Get the Full Story in Our Whitepaper

This infographic provides a high-level overview of the new VAMP landscape. For a comprehensive analysis, including enforcement timelines and strategies for adapting your risk programs, you need to go deeper.

Download our complete whitepaper, "What Should Merchants and Acquirers Do About Visa’s New VAMP?" to get the detailed insights your team needs to navigate these changes successfully.