Why underwriters look closely at digital goods
Friendly fraud
With nothing shipped, customers can claim they never received what they downloaded.
Card testing
Low-priced digital items attract fraudsters testing stolen cards.
Resale risk
Gift cards, game keys and accounts resold online carry fraud and policy risk.
A payment setup that fits
How we usually set up digital goods sellers. Your consultant tailors it to how you actually sell.
- 1
Compelling evidence
Visa’s Compelling Evidence 3.0 lets you win many fraud disputes by showing earlier undisputed purchases from the same customer and device. Log IP address, device and account for every order.
- 2
Card-testing defences
Bot protection, velocity limits and 3-D Secure stop testing runs before they reach your ratio.
- 3
Access logs
Record when each customer downloads or logs in. That’s your proof of delivery.
What you’ll need to apply
Have these ready and your application moves faster. Your consultant confirms the exact list for the processor you’re matched with.
- Government ID for every owner with 25% or more
- Voided business check or bank letter
- Recent business bank statements
- Recent processing statements, if you have taken cards before
- Articles of incorporation and EIN letter
- A website with clear pricing, refund, cancellation and contact details
- Product list and price points
- How you deliver, and the access logs you keep
- Terms of sale and refund policy
Why applications get declined, and how to avoid it
- Reselling gift cards, game keys or accounts
- No delivery or access records
- Very low prices with no fraud controls
We review your website, policies and statements against these before anything is submitted.
Keeping the account healthy after approval
Getting approved is half the job. These habits keep your account in good standing, and our platform tracks the numbers behind them for you.
- Store IP, device and login data for every purchase
- Turn on 3-D Secure for first-time buyers
- Block repeated failed attempts from the same source
Digital goods: common questions
How do we prove delivery for a download?
With access and download logs tied to the buyer’s account, IP address and device. Under Visa’s Compelling Evidence 3.0, earlier undisputed purchases from the same customer can win fraud disputes.
Why are low-priced products a problem?
Fraudsters test stolen cards on cheap items. Without controls, a single attack can add hundreds of fraud reports.
Can we sell gift cards or game keys?
Some acquirers allow it with strong controls. Many don’t. Tell us exactly what you sell.
What happens after I’m approved?
We keep working with you. Our platform gives you one view of every account, and we review your chargebacks, approval rate, fraud tools and fees with you so the account stays healthy and gets cheaper over time.