Is a credit card protected if I am scammed?
Credit cards offer the strongest statutory protection through chargeback rights, but protection is not absolute — it applies to items not received or misrepresented, and you must dispute within 60 days of the statement date.
Last reviewed: 10 June 2026
Explanation
The Fair Credit Billing Act gives US consumers the right to dispute credit card charges in specific circumstances: goods or services not received, goods significantly not as described, billing errors, and unauthorised charges. When you raise a dispute, the credit card issuer investigates and, if they rule in your favour, reverses the charge — this is a chargeback. The issuer can then pursue the merchant for the funds.
Chargebacks work well for most consumer transactions gone wrong: an online store that takes payment and never ships, a service that was not delivered, or a charge you did not authorise. They work less well when a scammer tricks you into voluntarily initiating the payment for something that turns out to be fraudulent — issuers may argue you authorised the transaction.
The 60-day window is critical. Disputes filed after 60 days from the statement date when the charge appeared are generally rejected. This means you must review your statements regularly and act quickly when something looks wrong.
For the best outcome: document everything before disputing. Screenshot the order confirmation, the seller's claims (product description, delivery timeline), and all correspondence. A well-documented dispute with clear evidence that goods were not received or were misrepresented has a high success rate.
Common red flags
- Merchant provides a tracking number that shows delivered to a different address
- Subscription that continues charging after you cancelled and have confirmation
- Statement shows a charge from a company name you do not recognise
- Online purchase where the website has since disappeared
- Merchant refusing to respond to refund requests within their stated policy period
- Charge is slightly different from what was agreed, suggesting bait-and-switch
What to do now
- Gather all evidence: order confirmation, product description screenshots, delivery tracking, and correspondence
- File the dispute through your card issuer within 60 days of the statement date — not the purchase date
- Contact the merchant first; a documented failed resolution attempt strengthens your dispute
- If the issuer denies your dispute, request escalation to a supervisor and file a CFPB complaint
- Report fraudulent merchants to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov
- Visit /questions for related consumer protection Q&As
Frequently asked questions
Will I always win a credit card dispute?
No. Success depends on the evidence and circumstances. Disputes for items clearly not received have high success rates. Disputes where you voluntarily sent money and the scammer has 'proof' of delivery are harder. Document everything before filing.
Can a merchant challenge a chargeback?
Yes. When you file a dispute, the merchant has an opportunity to respond with evidence. If they provide compelling proof — such as delivery confirmation to your address — the issuer may side with them. You can then escalate to arbitration if the amount justifies it.