American Express · Fraud

Amex Reason Code F31: EMV Lost/Stolen/Non-Received

Updated November 6, 2026 · Part of the American Express reason code guide

Amex reason code F31 applies when a lost, stolen or never-received chip card with PIN was used in a card-present charge, and the merchant's terminal couldn't support chip-and-PIN verification. Under the EMV liability shift for lost and stolen fraud, the merchant bears the loss. It's a card-present code and doesn't apply to ecommerce.

What Amex reason code F31 means

F31 is the lost or stolen counterpart to F30. A genuine American Express chip card protected by a PIN is lost, stolen or intercepted before reaching the Card Member, and someone uses it in person. If your terminal couldn’t verify the PIN, for example because it wasn’t PIN-capable or the PIN step was bypassed, the EMV liability shift can put the loss on you.

How often this applies depends heavily on the market. Where chip-and-PIN is the norm, F31 is a real risk for in-person merchants. In the US, where many Amex cards don’t use PIN at the point of sale, it is less common. The exact liability-shift rules and dates differ by region, so confirm with your acquirer.

Ecommerce merchants won’t see F31. Online fraud claims arrive as F29.

Common causes

  • Terminals that can read chips but can’t prompt for or verify a PIN
  • Staff bypassing the PIN prompt to speed up a sale
  • Unattended kiosks configured without PIN entry
  • Cards stolen in the mail before activation, used at merchants without PIN support

Evidence that wins an F31 dispute

  1. Terminal data showing PIN verification for the transaction, which normally defeats the claim.
  2. Proof the card was not a chip-and-PIN card, if that applies.
  3. Authorization records that show how the card was read and verified.
  4. Other proof the Card Member was present, such as CCTV or loyalty use, though it rarely overturns a liability-shift case.

How it differs from F30

With F30, the card was a counterfeit and the issue is that the chip wasn’t read. With F31, the card itself is genuine, but it was in the wrong hands, and the issue is that the PIN wasn’t verified. A terminal that reads chips but doesn’t support PIN can protect you from F30 and still leave you exposed to F31.

How to prevent F31 disputes

  • Use terminals that support chip-and-PIN for American Express, and keep them certified.
  • Never bypass PIN prompts.
  • Configure unattended terminals for PIN entry where your market requires it.

Should you fight or accept?

Fight only when your records show the PIN was verified or the card wasn’t a PIN card.

Accept when the card required PIN and your terminal couldn’t verify it. That’s the exact scenario the liability shift covers.

Frequently asked questions

What is Amex reason code F31?
Amex reason code F31, EMV Lost/Stolen/Non-Received, is a card-present fraud chargeback. A lost, stolen or never-received chip-and-PIN card was used at a terminal that wasn't able to verify the PIN, so the merchant is liable under the EMV liability shift.
Why is F31 rare in the US?
Many American Express cards issued in the US use chip-and-signature or no cardholder verification rather than chip-and-PIN, so the PIN-based liability scenario comes up less often. It is more relevant in markets where chip-and-PIN is standard.
How do I avoid Amex F31 chargebacks?
Use terminals that support chip-and-PIN for American Express and are configured to prompt for the PIN when the card requires it. Don't override PIN prompts or bypass chip reads.

Related reason codes

F30EMV CounterfeitF10Missing ImprintF14Missing SignatureF29Card Not PresentF24No Card Member Authorization
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