As Brazil’s booming e-commerce market drives economic growth, it also exposes merchants and financial institutions to a growing wave of fraud and payment disputes. According to Visa Acceptance Solutions, fraudulent e-commerce transactions in Brazil averaged 60% higher in value than legitimate ones during the first half of 2024 – underscoring the financial severity of the issue. Now, leading payment technology providers RS2 and ACI Worldwide are calling for urgent industry-wide adoption of advanced technology to prevent fraud, reduce chargebacks, and streamline dispute management. 

At the heart of the issue are rising chargeback volumes, triggered when consumers challenge transactions due to fraud, undelivered products, or what’s known as “friendly fraud.” These disputes can be costly and time-consuming for all parties involved—from merchants and payment processors to banks and card networks. With credit cards accounting for 34% of online transactions in Brazil, the most popular payment method is also the most frequently exploited by bad actors. 

Vlademir Santos, Head of Brazil at ACI Worldwide, emphasized the need for immediate technological adoption: “Advanced technologies such as artificial intelligence and machine learning are essential for detecting fraud in real time and optimizing dispute management in e-commerce,” he said. “Automating these processes not only reduces operational costs but also enhances the consumer experience and strengthens security in the sector.” 

Fraud methods in the Brazilian market are evolving fast. Criminals deploy tactics ranging from phishing scams and fake product listings to forged payment confirmations and account takeovers. These schemes not only defraud consumers but force merchants to absorb mounting losses—both financial and reputational—through repeated chargebacks and lost inventory. 

Compounding the issue are operational hurdles such as strict card scheme regulations, short windows to respond to disputes—sometimes just seven days—and limited interoperability between retailers, banks, and acquirers. This is why both RS2 and ACI Worldwide are championing a new approach based on real-time intelligence and integration. 

Florian Heuberger, Senior Product Manager at RS2, said, “The balance between innovation and security will be crucial for the future of e-commerce worldwide. The adoption of advanced technological solutions protects both merchants and consumers while boosting trust in the digital market.” 

Heuberger and Santos agree that artificial intelligence and machine learning are game changers when it comes to pre-empting fraud and managing disputes more efficiently. These technologies can identify suspicious behavior before it results in unauthorized transactions and can automate the process of compiling and submitting evidence, drastically reducing the operational burden on merchants.  

Complementing this, orchestration layers—which integrate systems and enable seamless communication between banks, acquirers, and merchants—are emerging as a critical solution. By centralizing data and automating workflows, this approach has been shown to deliver operational cost savings of up to 38.5% in dispute and chargeback management, according to internal data from RS2 and ACI Worldwide. 

RS2 and ACI Worldwide warn that unless the ecosystem modernizes, payment disputes will continue to erode margins and consumer trust. But the opportunity is clear: those who invest now in smart, integrated technologies will not only reduce losses but also build the operational resilience needed for long-term digital success.