Credit Card Fraud Prevention Tools

Fraud Management Servicescheckout process, the bankcard issuer confirms a
Identity theft costs merchants and consumers billionsconsumer's identity in real time.
of dollars each year. It is essential that businessesTransaction Scoring
implement the latest and best in the fraud protectionThis risk management solution combines predictive
management. Following is a list of the most widelyscoring technology with access to third party
used fraud prevention tools.databases, rules based processing, and expert human
Address Verification Serviceinsight to provide merchants with a clear
Address Verification Service (AVS) is a riskrecommendation on whether to accept, deny or
management tool for merchants acceptingchallenge a transaction. Merchants also gain access to
transactions when neither the card nor the cardholdera web-based tool, providing detailed information on
are present, or when the card is present but itseach transaction to determine its viability.
magnetic stripe cannot be read by a terminal at theIdentity Authentication
point of sale. Merchants submit the AVS requestThis service creates a virtual 'card present'
through their credit card merchant processor directly toenvironment by performing real-time authentication of
the specific credit card association for addressa purchaser's identity. Identity authentication detects
comparison. The Credit CardAssociation then verifiesidentification fraud by using proprietary databases,
the cardholder's billing address on file at the card issuer.statistical analysis and government issued identification.
Card Security VerificationIdentity authentication prevents would-be criminals from
Card security verification collects the 3- or 4-digitstealing a consumer's identity as well as deterring
numeric code on the credit card provided at the timeconsumers from making an authorized purchase then
of purchase. Credit card processing companies submitlater denying the transaction. In addition, selected
the card verification request from the merchantservices provide a guarantee against fraud losses.
directly to the specific credit card association. The cardAge Verification
security value is then compared to the card issuer'sMerchants can now 'card' visitors at their websites to
value on file. Credit card verification programs areauthenticate identity and age. Age verification uses an
offered by the major card associations and areinternational database of government-issued
known as CVV2 (Visa), CVC2 (MasterCard), CIDidentifications to instantaneously verify age and identity
(American Express) and CID (Discover Card).online. It provides a fraud-screening tool and satisfies
Credit Card Authenticationlegal compliance where applicable. Merchants simply
Both Visa and MasterCard offer authenticationsend user information collected at the website for
services enabling issuers to verify a cardholder'sinstantaneous age or identity verification. Consumers
account ownership during an online purchase. Withcan optionally sign their name with a mouse, providing
Verified by Visa (VbV) and MasterCard SecureCode,another layer of protection. Less than five seconds
consumers are assured that using a bankcard online isafter customers submit their name, ZIP code and date
as safe as using it at a local merchant. And merchantsof birth, age verification providers determine the exact
are fully protected from issuer chargebacks onidentity of the consumer, and bind their signature to the
transactions which have been fully authenticated. Sincepublic record.
the transaction is authenticated by the issuing bank, theCard Brand Data Security
merchant will be paid. Merchants no longer need toVisa's CISP (Cardholder Information Security Program)
bear the risk or the cost of fraud. When a cardholderand MasterCard's SDP (Site Data Protection)
shops at a participating VbV or SecureCode merchantprograms are security initiatives that require merchants
site, the checkout process remains the same until theto safeguard card data. Visa and MasterCard, along
"buy" button is selected. If the bankcard is registeredwith the other card brands, have adopted common
with a participating issuer, consumers will be asked forindustry security requirements referred to as the
their VbV password or their SecureCode issuerPayment Card Industry Data Security Standards (PCI
specific access credentials. Through this simpleDSS).