Fake Stripe Chargeback Coaching Scam
Criminals pose as Stripe customer advocates and coach cardholders to file fraudulent chargebacks against legitimate merchants, with the scammer taking a cut of the recovered funds.
Part of: Chargeback Traps
Last reviewed: 8 June 2026
A lesser-known variant of chargeback fraud involves a third party — the scammer — who does not make a purchase themselves but instead coaches consumers to file chargebacks for legitimate purchases in exchange for a fee or percentage of recovered funds. These 'chargeback services' often operate under Stripe's name, as Stripe is a widely known payment processor.
The pitch is: 'You were overcharged by a business that uses Stripe. We can help you get your money back through Stripe's dispute system for a 30% success fee.' The consumer, who may have a genuine grievance or may be misled into believing they were overcharged, files a chargeback based on the coaching. The merchant loses the funds, the scammer takes their cut, and the consumer is exposed to potential bank sanctions for chargeback abuse.
Stripe itself has no consumer-facing dispute service — chargebacks are filed through the cardholder's bank, not through Stripe.
How this scam works on the Stripe brand
An advertisement on social media promotes 'Stripe Refund Recovery Services — Get Your Money Back From Any Stripe Transaction.' Clicking through leads to a page that asks the user to enter the merchant name, transaction date, and amount. The 'service' provides scripted chargeback language and coaches the user to claim 'services not as described' regardless of the actual circumstances.
The user pays the service fee upfront — $20 to $100 — and is walked through filing the chargeback with their bank using the provided script. In many cases the chargeback is filed fraudulently against a legitimate merchant. The scammer collects the fee whether the chargeback succeeds or fails.
In a secondary variant, the 'service' asks for the user's card number 'to verify the Stripe transaction' and harvests the card details for independent fraud.
Common red flags
- A third-party service claims to recover Stripe refunds for a fee — Stripe has no consumer-facing refund recovery service.
- The service advertises on social media with promises of guaranteed chargebacks for any Stripe purchase.
- You are asked for your card number or banking details to 'verify' your Stripe transaction.
- The scripted chargeback language asks you to claim 'services not received' when you did receive the service.
- The service charges an upfront fee regardless of outcome.
- The 'recovery agent' cannot explain how Stripe's system works when questioned.
- The contact is exclusively through social media DM or WhatsApp.
How to protect yourself
- File chargebacks directly with your card issuer — no third party is needed and no fee is required.
- Know that Stripe does not have a consumer-facing dispute portal; disputes are managed through your card-issuing bank.
- Only file chargebacks for genuine unauthorised transactions or undelivered goods — fraudulent chargebacks can result in your bank account being closed.
- If you have a genuine complaint about a Stripe merchant, contact the merchant first, then your bank if necessary.
- Report any social media ad offering Stripe refund recovery to the platform.
How to report it
- Report the social media ad to the platform's ad reporting function.
- Forward any associated emails to [email protected].
- Report to the FTC at reportfraud.ftc.gov.
- Report to the CFPB at consumerfinance.gov/complaint if card details were harvested.
- File with ic3.gov.
Frequently asked questions
Does Stripe have a consumer refund recovery service?
No. Stripe provides payment processing for merchants. Consumer disputes are handled by the cardholder's bank through the standard chargeback process. Any third party claiming to recover Stripe refunds for a fee is not affiliated with Stripe.
Am I at risk if I file a chargeback coached by a third party?
Yes. Filing a chargeback you know to be false is bank fraud. Banks track chargeback patterns, and accounts with excessive or suspicious chargebacks can be flagged or closed. Only file chargebacks for genuine disputes.
How do I legitimately dispute a Stripe charge?
Contact the merchant first — most are willing to resolve disputes directly. If that fails, contact your card-issuing bank to initiate a chargeback through their standard process. No third party or fee is required.