# Account risk signals

Get risk signals for connected account fraud, delinquency, and website legitimacy.

The Account Signals API provides risk intelligence for your connected accounts, to help you detect and respond to the following risk categories:

- [Fraudulent merchant](https://docs.stripe.com/radar/fraudulent-merchant.md): Detect connected accounts engaging in fraudulent activity, such as misrepresenting goods or services, processing unauthorized transactions, or committing first-party fraud.
- [Merchant delinquency risk](https://docs.stripe.com/radar/merchant-delinquency-risk.md): Identify connected accounts showing financial distress indicators that might lead to unfulfilled orders, increased disputes, or the inability to cover refunds.
- [Fraudulent website](https://docs.stripe.com/radar/fraudulent-website.md): Flag connected accounts operating deceptive or policy-violating websites, including sites with misleading product claims, fake storefronts, or content that doesn’t match the stated business model.

## How it works

Stripe continuously evaluates your connected accounts using machine learning models trained on millions of payments across the Stripe network. When a risk signal changes, Stripe sends a webhook event to your endpoint so you can take action.
A diagram showing the account signals flow between a connected account, Stripe, and a platform. (See full diagram at https://docs.stripe.com/radar/account-risk-signals)
## Signal types

Learn how to use each signal type:

- [Fraudulent merchant signal](https://docs.stripe.com/radar/fraudulent-merchant.md): Detects connected accounts engaging in fraudulent activity using ML models trained on Stripe network data.
- [Merchant delinquency risk signal](https://docs.stripe.com/radar/merchant-delinquency-risk.md): Identifies connected accounts at risk of financial distress that might lead to negative balances.
- [Fraudulent website signal](https://docs.stripe.com/radar/fraudulent-website.md): Evaluates whether a connected account’s website is deceptive or policy-violating using on-demand analysis.

## Take action on connected accounts 

You can respond to the risk signals that you receive for a connected account using the following [Radar for Platforms](https://docs.stripe.com/radar/radar-for-platforms.md) tools:

| Action | Description |
| --- | --- |
| **Raise a review** | Flag the account for manual investigation by your risk team. |
| **Pause payouts** | Hold funds while you investigate to reduce potential losses. |
| **Pause payments** | Stop the account from processing new transactions. |
| **Reject the account** | Permanently disable the account if you confirm it’s fraudulent. |
| **Set reserves** | Require holding a percentage of each transaction as a buffer against future losses. |
| **Request identity verification** | Ask the connected account to verify their identity with a government-issued document and selfie. |

Learn more about the [investigation and enforcement workflows](https://docs.stripe.com/radar/radar-for-platforms.md) from Radar for Platforms.