Stripe · Decline codes
What does the Stripe fraudulent decline code mean?
Checked
Stripe's fraudulent decline code means the payment was declined because Stripe suspects it's fraudulent. Stripe advises merchants not to report more detail to the customer and to present it the same way as generic_decline, so a fraudster learns nothing. Do not retry the payment or move it to another processor. If a real customer was blocked by mistake, they can try a different payment method or contact the store, which can review the payment.
- Type
- Hard decline (fraud)
- Who declined
- Stripe's fraud screening
- Retry
- No
- Shopper action
- Contact the store or use another payment method
- Merchant action
- Show a generic decline message; review the payment if a customer complains
What PlatformDTC does
PlatformDTC's checkout treats fraudulent as a fraud stop: the payment is never offered to a backup processor, so a blocked card cannot be tried elsewhere through the store, and the shopper sees only the generic hint "Your card was declined. Try another card or contact your bank." On renewals, on the default fixed schedule and with Smart retry alike, it is never retried automatically. The subscription is held past due instead of cancelled, the card is marked blocked, and the customer is emailed a one-click link to add a new card, re-sent up to 4 times per billing cycle at least 3 days apart.
Why it happens
Stripe's risk models flagged the payment, based on signals such as the card, device, location and past activity. The decision comes from Stripe, not the card's bank.
What the shopper can do
If this was your own purchase, use a different payment method or contact the store so they can look into it.
What the store can do
Show a plain "your card was declined" message. Never tell the shopper the payment looked fraudulent. Do not retry or route the same card through another provider.
For developers
Stripe sets decline_code fraudulent when its own screening blocks the charge; the charge outcome shows the risk evaluation. Present it to the customer as generic_decline.
Frequently asked questions
- Should I tell the customer their payment was flagged as fraud?
- No. Stripe advises presenting it the same as generic_decline and not sharing more detail.
- Can I retry a fraudulent decline on another processor?
- You shouldn't. Moving a blocked payment elsewhere undoes the fraud check that stopped it.
Sources
- Stripe decline codes — Stripe
Related
- generic_decline — Declined for an unknown reason, or blocked by Stripe Radar or Adaptive Acceptance.
- merchant_blacklist — The payment matched an entry on the store's own Stripe block list.
- stolen_card — The card has been reported stolen. It can't be used again.
- lost_card — The card has been reported lost. It can't be used; the shopper needs another card.
- incorrect_address — The billing address entered doesn't match the bank's records.
- incorrect_cvc — The card's security code (CVC) is wrong.
- incorrect_number — The card number entered is wrong.
- incorrect_pin — The PIN entered on a card reader is wrong.