Back to blog

Fraud vs. Revenue: How to Improve Acceptance Rates Without Increasing Risk in Latin American E-Commerce

Gustavo Mena

Latin America is one of the most complex regions for online payments. While digital commerce is growing fast, so are its challenges—especially when it comes to fraud and acceptance rates.

To protect against chargebacks, many merchants apply strict fraud rules. But this often backfires. Genuine transactions get rejected, customers abandon purchases, and businesses lose revenue they could have captured.

At the core of the problem is a tension between fraud prevention and payment acceptance. Solving one shouldn't mean compromising the other—and with the right tools, it no longer has to.

Why Acceptance Rates Matter More Than Ever

Every legitimate transaction that gets declined is lost revenue. But beyond the financial impact, it also damages the customer experience and erodes trust.

In a region where fraud rates are among the highest globally, businesses often rely on conservative rules that block more transactions than necessary. As a result, they see lower conversion rates and diminished profitability—despite their best efforts to protect themselves.

Smarter Fraud Prevention: The Role of 3D Secure (3DS)

One of the most effective tools to solve this tradeoff is 3D Secure (3DS). This protocol adds an extra layer of authentication—typically a password or code sent to the customer—before the transaction is completed.

When used strategically, 3DS can drastically reduce chargebacks while preserving conversion. That’s because once a transaction is authenticated through 3DS, the liability shifts to the issuing bank, protecting the merchant.

And more importantly: it allows businesses to say yes to more transactions, not fewer.

Don’t Choose Between Risk and Revenue. Balance Both.

The most effective fraud strategies combine advanced fraud engines with tools like 3DS. For example, you can reroute transactions that would otherwise be rejected and pass them through a 3DS flow. This minimizes false declines, improves your standing with banks, and helps you recover good sales that would have been lost.

At DEUNA, we make this balance possible through:

  • Partnerships with top anti-fraud providers in the region

  • Dynamic authentication flows powered by 3DS

  • Shopper DNA, our proprietary tool to flag legitimate customers misclassified as high-risk


Results That Go Beyond Chargebacks

Merchants who balance fraud controls with acceptance strategies don’t just see fewer disputes. They see:

  • Higher conversion rates

  • Lower operational costs

  • Better relationships with PSPs and banks

  • More repeat customers due to smoother checkout experiences

Why It Matters for Latin American E-Commerce

In a market as competitive and fast-moving as Latin America, optimizing your fraud strategy isn’t just about protection. It’s about performance.

The right combination of tools can help you reduce fraud and grow sales. You can approve more of the right transactions, cut operational losses, and scale with confidence.

Ready to stop losing good transactions to outdated rules?

Learn how DEUNA can help you protect your business—without blocking your growth. Request a demo at DEUNA.com.

Back to blog
Editor’s Picks
Why Most Companies Fail to Unlock Value from Payments Data
Learn More
From Infrastructure to Intelligence: How Payments Evolved into a Strategic Engine
Learn More
5 Things We Learned at the Payments Leader Summit (That Could Redefine How You Grow in 2025)
Learn More