Can I do a chargeback on a credit card payment made to a scammer?

Credit cards are the payment method most favorable to scam victims because of chargeback rights under the Fair Credit Billing Act (FCBA) in the U.S. and similar consumer-protection laws in other countries. A chargeback is a forced reversal of a charge initiated by your bank when you dispute a transaction.

For scam-related disputes, you typically cite one of two reasons: the merchant was fraudulent and the goods or services were never delivered, or the transaction was unauthorized (your card was used without permission). 'Item not received' and 'misrepresentation' are strong grounds. The dispute must generally be filed within 60 days of the statement date in the U.S., though many issuers allow up to 120 days.

To file, call the number on the back of your card or log into your card portal and select 'dispute a charge.' Provide all evidence: screenshots of what was promised, proof of no delivery, and any communications with the scammer. Your issuer will open an investigation and may issue a provisional credit while it is pending.

Be aware that scammers sometimes use fake merchant names or process payments through legitimate-looking shells to complicate chargebacks. Also note that some services — like gift card purchases made with a credit card — are trickier to dispute because you did receive the cards, just the value was stolen afterward. In those cases, emphasize that you were deceived into making the purchase.