Mastercard Chargeback Reason Code
Mastercard Reason Code 4837: No Cardholder Authorization
Category FraudBy Payment Defender Editorial TeamUpdated July 17, 2026Last reviewed July 17, 2026
General
What Mastercard Reason Code 4837 Means
Mastercard reason code 4837 identifies a dispute in which the cardholder claims they did not authorize or participate in the transaction, often signaling suspected fraud.
Why This Chargeback Happens
This dispute commonly occurs after true third-party fraud, when a cardholder does not recognize a billing descriptor, or when a family member used the card without the account holder's knowledge.
What the Cardholder or Issuer Is Claiming
The cardholder is asserting that neither they nor anyone authorized by them engaged in or approved the transaction.
What Merchants Should Review
Review the authentication data, AVS and CVC2 results, device and IP information, delivery confirmation, customer communication history, and any prior undisputed transactions from the same customer.
Recommended Chargeback Evidence
- Proof of cardholder authentication or liability shift, if applicable
- AVS and CVC2 match results from the authorization
- Delivery confirmation to the verified cardholder address
- Evidence of prior undisputed purchases from the same account or device
- Customer communication acknowledging the purchase
How to Prevent Similar Disputes
No-authorization fraud disputes may be reduced by using cardholder authentication where appropriate, screening high-risk orders, keeping billing descriptors recognizable, and responding quickly to fraud alerts before a dispute is filed.
Important Limitations
This page is educational and reflects common industry usage. Mastercard dispute rules, timelines, and evidence requirements change over time and vary by region and dispute reason. Merchants should confirm current requirements with their acquirer or processor before responding to any dispute.
Relevant Payment Defender Products
AlertBridge™
AlertBridge™ may help merchants intercept fraud disputes as alerts before they become chargebacks.
Explore AlertBridge™
Related Reason Codes
Sources and Review Information
- Mastercard: Mastercard Chargeback Guide
Last reviewed July 17, 2026
Chargeback rules, evidence requirements, and response options may vary by card network, region, processor, and dispute circumstances.