Explain Radar risk score evidence value

This blog post contains detailed information about how to use stripe radar data in chargeback responses.

Content for this specific post will be expanded with comprehensive information, expert tips, and actionable strategies.

TL;DR: When responding to a Stripe dispute, embed Stripe Radar artifacts — risk score snapshots, event logs, 3D Secure authentication records, device fingerprints, and IP geolocation traces — into a clear timeline that shows the transaction was authorized and matched expected customer behavior. Export raw JSON and human-readable screenshots from Stripe Dashboard to make evidence easy for reviewers to verify.

Start by collecting Radar decision logs, 3D Secure auth telemetry, device fingerprint exports, and server-side order records; then map those items into a chronological narrative and upload them with labeled attachments. Deadlines vary by processor — check your dispute notification or the official reason code guide.

Who This Is For

This guide is for merchants and payments ops teams on Stripe who want to strengthen chargeback responses using Stripe Radar data. You’re likely a technical or semi-technical operator at an ecommerce or SaaS business that:

Uses Stripe as the payment processor and relies on Radar for fraud detection;
Has access to the Stripe Dashboard and API logs;
Can export JSON logs or capture screenshots but needs a repeatable workflow for disputes;
Wants to convert Radar telemetry into crisp evidence that dispute reviewers understand.

What This Dispute Means

When a customer files a dispute with their issuer for a card payment processed through Stripe, the cardholder’s bank asks Stripe (and you, the merchant) to justify the charge. Stripe relays that dispute to you with the associated metadata and gives you an opportunity to submit evidence. “Stripe radar chargeback evidence” refers to using the telemetry and decision context produced by Stripe Radar — risk scores, matched signals, 3D Secure records, device fingerprints, and related logs — as part of your response package.

This dispute isn’t just about whether a card was charged — it’s about whether you can demonstrate authorization, consistent customer intent, and reasonable anti-fraud controls. Radar artifacts help show that the transaction was evaluated and accepted according to risk signals in your configured rules and that relevant authentication records exist.

Evidence Checklist

Before you start drafting your rebuttal, collect the following pieces. Each item should be exportable and clearly labeled when uploaded to the dispute portal.

Radar decision snapshot – the Radar risk score and decision reason shown at the time of transaction (screenshot + exported JSON if possible).
Radar events export – full event timeline (accept/deny, matched rules, machine-learning score changes).
3D Secure authentication records – Authentication Outcome, ECI value, ARes/CRes artifacts or equivalent logs from Stripe showing successful 3DS where applicable.
Device fingerprinting export – device ID, browser user agent, canvas/device attributes captured by your fingerprinting provider or Stripe elements.
IP geolocation trace – transaction IP, geo match to billing/shipping addresses, and any ASN/ISP details.
Order and fulfillment records – order confirmation, timestamps, shipment tracking, delivery confirmation, account activity logs (logins, password resets).
Customer communications – email exchanges, support tickets, chat transcripts with timestamps and sender addresses.
Merchant Dashboard screenshots – Stripe payment detail page screenshot showing amount, email, payment method, and any metadata you relied on.
Server logs and webhooks – relevant request/response logs, webhook receipts and their signatures proving event integrity.

Step-by-Step to Win

Set up a reproducible evidence export process
1. From Stripe Dashboard or API, export the payment object and associated Radar events as JSON.
2. Take annotated screenshots of the payment details and the Radar decision panel (timestamped and with browser OS visible if possible).
Assemble authentication artifacts
1. Export 3D Secure authentication logs or ARes/CRes equivalents. If 3DS was used, include the auth outcome and ECI indicator.
2. If no 3DS occurred, document why it wasn’t required (for example, the payment path) and include the Radar risk decision that accepted the payment.
Correlate device fingerprint and IP evidence
1. Export device fingerprint records — show the device ID, browser fingerprint attributes and how they match previous legitimate sessions if available.
2. Provide IP geolocation data and compare it to the billing and shipping addresses; highlight matches and reasonable deviations (traveler IP, VPN notes if logged).
Build a timeline that ties all evidence to intent
1. Create a short, bulletized timeline: when order placed, when auth occurred, when shipment left, customer interactions, and any refunds attempted.
2. Map each timeline item to the corresponding file attachment (e.g., “Order confirmation — attachment A; Radar decision — attachment B”).
Draft the narrative for the issuer
1. Start with a concise summary statement: one or two sentences that state the key point (authorized payment with authentication/fulfillment evidence).
2. Present the chronological facts with references to attachments and specific Radar signals that supported the payment’s acceptance.
Validate integrity and provenance
1. Include webhook receipts and signature verification to show event authenticity.
2. Where possible, include server logs that demonstrate requests to Stripe and responses, ensuring there’s no gap in the event chain.
Submit to Stripe’s dispute response flow
1. Upload attachments with clear filenames and in the format requested by Stripe/issuer (PDF, PNG, JSON where supported).
2. Use the “notes to issuer” field for the short narrative and attach the full timeline and raw exports in attachments.
Monitor and be ready to escalate
1. Track the dispute status in Stripe and be responsive to requests for additional information.
2. If the initial response is insufficient, prepare a concise addendum rather than resubmitting large amounts of new, unreferenced material.

Common Mistakes

Submitting only screenshots without raw Radar event JSON — reviewers can't validate sequence or signal matching.
Mismatching timestamps (UTC vs local) or leaving timestamps unlabeled — causes confusion about the event order.
Uploading large unstructured logs without clear callouts — attach a short guide that points reviewers to the exact lines that matter.
Overloading the response with irrelevant marketing emails — include only communications that prove consent or attempt to resolve the issue.
Failing to show webhook receipts and signatures — leaves gaps in proving Stripe actually received your events.
Not explaining Radar decisions — a score alone is not enough; explain what signals matched and why the decision supported authorization.
Relying only on shipment tracking without authentication — shipping proves delivery but not authorization if auth evidence is weak.
Using vague language like “transaction looked normal” — be specific: “Radar risk score: X; matched signals: IP billing match, device fingerprint matched previous orders.”

Example Narrative Outline

Use this outline as the skeleton for the short narrative included in the issuer notes. Keep the narrative concise (one page max) and use attachments for supporting detail.

Opening summary (1–2 sentences)
Example: “This charge was authorized by the cardholder and processed through Stripe on [timestamp]. Attached evidence shows successful 3D Secure authentication, a Radar decision that accepted the payment, device fingerprint consistency, and completed fulfillment.”
Key transaction facts
Order number, amount, customer email, last four digits of card (as permitted), and method of authentication.
Authentication and Radar context
State whether 3D Secure was used and reference the attachment with the 3DS auth outcome. Summarize the Radar decision and list crucial matched signals (e.g., IP billing match, repeat customer fingerprint).
Fulfillment and customer behavior
Shipment dates/tracking, login history (showing device continuity), and any post-purchase support contacts indicating customer awareness.
Attachments index
Label attachments A, B, C... and give one-line descriptions so reviewers can quickly find each piece.
Closing statement
Concise wrap: “Based on authentication records, Radar decisioning, and fulfillment evidence, we request the issuer consider this a valid, authorized transaction.”

Processor/Platform/Industry Specifics

Because you are using Stripe, you have access to several artifacts that are particularly valuable versus general merchant evidence. Below are Stripe-specific tips and the industry nuances that make them persuasive.

Radar risk score value and context
The Radar score gives reviewers context about how Stripe evaluated the transaction at the moment of authorization. Rather than submitting only the numeric score, include the Radar event timeline that shows what signals matched (for example: IP/billing match, previously used device fingerprint, or accepted rule override). Explain any manual or automatic rule overrides and why the decision was made.
3D Secure artifacts for Stripe payments
For payments that passed through Stripe’s 3D Secure flow, attach the auth outcome and any ARes/CRes logs available from the Dashboard or API. If 3DS was attempted but failed and you accepted the payment, explicitly explain the fallback and include the Radar decision justifying the acceptance.
Device fingerprinting and Stripe Elements
If you use a fingerprinting provider in conjunction with Stripe Elements, export device IDs and the attributes that match prior orders. Show continuity: same fingerprint across previous successful orders reduces the likelihood of fraud. If you rely on Stripe’s own signals, include the related Radar event details.
IP geolocation matching
Provide a concise IP-to-address comparison: transaction IP → geolocation → compare to billing and shipping. If the IP is different, provide context (traveler, corporate VPN, mobile carrier NAT) and server-side indicators like login location history that support the deviation.
Webhooks and signature verification
Stripe webhook receipts and their signature headers are strong proof of event integrity. Attach the raw webhook body plus the signature header verification showing the event was received and processed by your system.
Industry differences
For digital goods and SaaS, authentication and logs (account creation, IP history, device fingerprint) are often more persuasive than shipping. For physical goods, shipment tracking combined with Radar evidence creates a stronger fulcrum for rebuttal.

How ProofReturn Helps

ProofReturn automates many of the manual steps above: it pulls Radar event histories, exports 3D Secure logs, captures device fingerprint records, and assembles a timeline and labeled attachments optimized for dispute portals. Automation reduces human error in matching timestamps, ensuring the issuer sees a coherent narrative with raw JSON plus human-readable screenshots. ProofReturn also provides templates for narratives and attachment indexes so your team can submit succinct, reviewer-friendly responses quickly.

Using automation lets you spend less time wrangling logs and more time investigating repeat patterns, tuning Radar rules, and improving the customer experience to reduce future disputes.

FAQ Section

Which Radar artifacts are most persuasive in a Stripe dispute?

The most persuasive artifacts are a combination: a Radar decision snapshot that shows matched signals, the Radar events timeline (raw JSON), any 3D Secure authentication record when used, device fingerprint records showing continuity with prior legitimate activity, IP geolocation that supports the billing/shipping addresses, and server/webhook logs proving event integrity. Use a timeline to connect these items into a coherent story.

Can I submit raw JSON files from Stripe as evidence?

Yes — if the dispute portal accepts JSON attachments. Many issuers and processors accept JSON or PDF. Include both the raw JSON export and a short, human-readable summary or annotated screenshots that point reviewers to the key lines in the JSON.

How should I present 3D Secure details in a response?

Include the 3DS authentication result and the authentication data (for example, the ECI or the ARes/CRes equivalent) if available, along with a short explanation of what the outcome means (successful auth, challenge flow, etc.). If 3DS was not used, explain why and present the Radar decision that supported the acceptance.

What if the IP location doesn’t match the billing address?

Don’t ignore it — document it. Provide context such as previous login locations, travel notes from customer communications, mobile carrier details, or evidence of VPN/proxy usage captured in your logs. Show that you evaluated the discrepancy and cite Radar signals or past behavior that justified acceptance.

How do I use device fingerprinting in a way issuers can verify?

Export the fingerprint record, show any matches to prior orders, and include the timestamped fingerprint ID. If your fingerprinting provider provides an explanation or matching score, include that as well. Label the exact attributes reviewers should check (device ID, OS, browser, plugin list) and map them to previous legitimate activity when possible.

Should I include customer support transcripts?

Include only those communications that directly show the customer’s awareness or intent (order confirmations, support replies that reference the order, cancellation requests). Make sure the transcripts show sender/recipient addresses and timestamps, and annotate where they corroborate the timeline.

How do I prove the Radar decision wasn’t overridden incorrectly?

Attach the Radar events snapshot that shows the decision, any rule matches, and whether a manual override occurred. If an override happened, explain the reason and include any internal notes or justification recorded at the time. Clarity about why a decision was made helps reviewers understand that the merchant followed proper controls.

What format should attachments be in?

Use PDF for long documents, PNG/JPEG for screenshots, and JSON for raw event exports where accepted. Name each file clearly (e.g., “A_RadarEvents_2025-XX-XX.json”, “B_3DS_Auth_Result.pdf”, “C_Shipment_Tracking.pdf”) and include an attachment index in your narrative mapping each file to the timeline.

Related Resources

Final CTA

If you want to generate a dispute-ready packet from Stripe Radar data automatically, generate a tailored evidence bundle now at /generate — the tool pulls Radar events, 3D Secure auth logs, device fingerprints, and IP traces and formats them into a timeline and labelled attachments ready for submission.

How to Use Stripe Radar Data in Chargeback Responses