ChargebackKit
MastercardFraudUpdated June 2026

Mastercard Reason Code 4849: Questionable Merchant Activity

Mastercard or the issuer flags this transaction as originating from a merchant whose processing privileges have been terminated — or whose overall processing activity has been identified as questionable — commonly associated with placement on the MATCH (Member Alert to Control High-Risk Merchants) file.

Respond within ~45 days
Highly winnable

Your strongest argument

The merchant account is in active good standing under a valid agreement — not terminated — and this transaction corresponds to a documented, legitimate purchase.

Evidence that wins a Mastercard 4849 dispute

  • Proof the merchant account is in active, good standing with the acquiring bank — not terminated or placed on the MATCH list
  • Records showing the transaction was processed under a valid, active merchant agreement
  • Documentation that the transaction corresponds to a legitimate, authorized purchase

Ordered strongest first — lead your rebuttal with the items at the top.

Source: Mastercard Chargeback Guide. The Mastercard rulebook defines this code and its dispute framework; the issuer decides every dispute and sets the exact deadline shown in your processor dashboard.

Not sure you have enough to win?

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How processors label this dispute

ProcessorWhat you'll see
Stripereason: fraudulent

Where to pull this evidence

Prove the genuine cardholder made and benefited from the purchase. Authentication data wins these. Here's exactly where the relevant records live in each processor dashboard — gather them free before you build your pack.

Stripe

Dashboard → Payments → Disputes (or the email alert from Stripe).

  • AVS & CVC check results: Open the original payment → Payment details → "Checks" (CVC, ZIP, address).
  • Customer email, IP, and device: Payment → Customer section and the "Risk insights" / Radar panel.
  • Receipt / order confirmation: Payment → "Send receipt" or your order-management system; export the PDF.
  • Refund history & reference IDs: Payment → Timeline shows any refunds with their re_… reference IDs.

Shopify Payments

Shopify admin → Orders → the flagged order → "Chargeback" banner, or Settings → Payments → Manage disputes.

  • Order & fulfillment details: Orders → the order → Fulfillment + Timeline (shows when items shipped).
  • Tracking number & carrier: Orders → Fulfillment → tracking; confirm "Delivered" status with the carrier.
  • Customer info & IP: Order → Customer section; Order → Additional details / fraud analysis for IP and AVS/CVV.
  • Fraud analysis (AVS/CVV/risk): Order → "Fraud analysis" panel shows AVS, CVV, and Shopify’s risk indicators.

Square

Square Dashboard → Disputes (or Balance → Disputes), or the email from Square.

  • Transaction & receipt: Transactions → the payment → receipt; "Resend receipt" for a copy.
  • Card-present / chip details: Transaction detail shows entry method (chip, tap, keyed) — chip reads support card-present disputes.
  • Customer details: Customer Directory → the customer; or the transaction’s customer section.
  • Itemization & amount: Transaction → itemized breakdown to rebut "incorrect amount" claims.

PayPal

PayPal → Resolution Center → the open case (Dispute, Claim, or Chargeback).

  • Transaction details & ID: Activity → the transaction → details; note the Transaction ID.
  • Proof of delivery / tracking: Resolution Center → "Respond" → add tracking number + carrier (PayPal validates delivery).
  • Proof of shipment / service: Resolution Center evidence upload: invoice, shipment receipt, or service-completion proof.
  • Buyer communication: Resolution Center message thread + your own email records with the buyer.

Build a submission-ready Mastercard 4849 response

ChargebackKit assembles your evidence into a formatted, labeled rebuttal pack with the exhibits and response letter card networks expect — pre-mapped to Fraudulent / Unauthorized disputes.

Build your evidence pack — $19
Verified against the official Mastercard Chargeback Guide3-day money-back guarantee if your pack isn’t structured correctly for your dispute

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Frequently asked questions

What is Mastercard reason code 4849?↓
Mastercard 4849 ("Questionable Merchant Activity") is filed when Mastercard or an issuer flags a transaction as coming from a merchant whose processing privileges have been terminated or whose processing patterns are considered questionable — often tied to MATCH list placement or an excessive chargeback program notification.
How do I respond to a 4849?↓
Demonstrate that your merchant account is in active good standing with your acquirer — not terminated or flagged — and that the disputed transaction corresponds to a legitimate, authorized purchase with full supporting documentation.
What is the MATCH list and how does it relate to 4849?↓
MATCH (Member Alert to Control High-Risk Merchants) is a Mastercard-maintained database of merchants whose card processing privileges have been terminated, typically for excessive chargebacks, fraud, or compliance violations. Transactions from MATCH-listed merchants can trigger 4849 disputes. If you believe you were incorrectly placed on MATCH, contact your acquiring bank.

Where to go next

Build the pack for Fraudulent / Unauthorized disputes, or dig into the matching guide, template, and processor evidence requirements.

Build the pack for this dispute

Updated June 2026. This code’s meaning and evidence requirements are sourced from the Mastercard Chargeback Guide and may change as Mastercard revises its rules; always check your processor dashboard for the exact deadline and label on your dispute. The issuer decides every dispute — there is no guaranteed outcome.