| The age of credit cards had added convenience for | | | | the card. Since the CVV is only listed on the actual |
| society, but also some very real risks of fraud and | | | | card, the person using the card must have the card in |
| misuse. While shopping on the Internet, for example, | | | | their hand when charging a purchase. |
| there isn't anyone to match up the credit card with a | | | | Many online retailers have included a separate box for |
| driver's license or a face, and anonymity can mean | | | | customers to fill out with the CVV in order to be sure |
| that anyone is using that credit card number. | | | | that the transaction is valid. When used along with the |
| To fight back, credit card companies are using security | | | | credit card number, more fraud is thwarted because |
| measures to be sure that the person buying items is | | | | it's a double check system. |
| actually the same person that is signed up for the card | | | | While this doesn't help when the actual credit card is |
| and the bills that come to their house. | | | | stolen, it does help to cut down on transactions that |
| What is CVV? | | | | are made by those that hack into computer systems |
| CVV stands for Credit Verification or Validation Value. | | | | for credit card numbers. This information stealing used |
| All major credit card companies started using CVV in | | | | to mean that thieves could charge hundreds of dollars |
| order to validate the identity of the user when the | | | | of merchandise without a problem, but now, they need |
| physical presence of the card or cardholder is not | | | | even more information than they might be able to get. |
| necessary. | | | | Where else is the CVV used? |
| Visa and MasterCard include a three digit CVV on the | | | | And while the Internet has gotten the most attention |
| backs of their cards in the signature panel and | | | | for the CVV, purchases over the phone or by mail |
| Discover does the same thing. American Express | | | | order can also be made more secure with this extra |
| includes a four digit CVV on the fronts of their cards in | | | | information. |
| varying locations. | | | | If you have trouble locating your CVV, you can |
| But how does this help with fraud? | | | | contact your customer service center with the number |
| The thing with the CVV is that it allows the retailer to | | | | listed on the back of the card, but generally it's easy to |
| see that the customer is actually in the presence of | | | | see where there are extra digits on the card. |