The Visa Integrity Risk Program (VIRP) will replace Visa’s current Global Brand Protection Program (GBPP), and will subsequently enforce the term “High-Integrity Risk Merchants” in place of its current “High-Brand Risk Merchants”. The VIRP is designed to protect Visa’s payment system from fraudulent transactions by ensuring that acquirers and designated agents maintain appropriate controls and oversight processes.
VIRP Summary:
- There are three tiers of High-Integrity Risk, each of which is subject to appropriate due diligence requirements
- Prior approval by Visa will be required for any High-Integrity Risk acquirers and designated agents before onboarding merchants that are subject to the VIRP
- Separate approvals are required for each MCC under the Tier 1 category
- Obtaining a Tier 1 category approval will cover all Tier 2 and Tier 3 categories. Similarly, a Tier 2 category approval will cover Tier 3 categories
- Merchants operating in High-Integrity Risk categories must be registered by their High-Integrity Risk acquirers via the High-Integrity Risk Registration (HIRR) system; previously called the High-Risk Merchant (HRM) Registration system
- High-Integrity Risk acquirers will be subject to Visa control assessments
- From June 2023, Visa Fraud Monitoring Program (VFMP) and the Visa Dispute Monitoring Program (VDMP) will be updated to reflect the new High-Integrity Risk MCCs
VIRP High-Integrity Risk MCCs:
High-Integrity Risk Merchant Tier | MCC |
Tier 1 | 5967 – Direct Marketing – Inbound Teleservices Merchant |
7273 – Dating Services | |
7995 – Betting, including Lottery Tickets, Casino Gaming Chips, Off-Track Betting, Wagers at Race Tracks and games of chance to win prizes of monetary value | |
5122 – Drugs, Drug Proprietaries, and Druggist Sundries | |
5912 – Drug Stores and Pharmacies | |
Tier 2 | 6051 – Non-Financial Institutions – Foreign Currency, Non-Fiat Currency (e.g., Cryptocurrency), Money Orders (Not Money Transfer), Account Funding (not Stored Value Load), Travelers Cheques, and Debt Repayment |
6012 – Financial Institutions – Merchandise, Services, and Debt Repayments | |
4816 – Computer Network / Information Services | |
5816 – Digital Goods – Games | |
Tier 3 | 6211 – Security Brokers / Dealers |
5966 – Direct Marketing – Outbound Telemarketing Merchant | |
5968 – Direct Marketing – Continuity / Subscription Merchant | |
5993 – Cigar Stores and Stands |
For more details about the merchant categories and the latest VIRP information, please visit the Global Brand Protection Program page at Visa Online.
Source: Visa Business News 6th April 2023 Release