When Is it Safe to Give out the Security Code on the Back of My Credit Card?
- Written By: Tricia Ellis-Christensen
- Edited By: O. Wallace
- Last Modified Date: 28 April 2013
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Copyright Protected:
2003-2013 Conjecture Corporation
The security code on the back of your credit card, which older credit cards may not have, is a three or four digit number used to verify that you actually hold the card. It is also called a CVV or CV2. There are a lot of questions about when it is safe to give this security code out, and when you should not release this information. It is usually safe to give out this code when shopping online, especially to well-known retailers, but you should never release it when you are using the card in person.
Generally, the security code was intended for extra protection when you purchase items on the Internet. It is used to verify that you in fact are entitled to use the card, and that you have all the information contained on the card. Since an online purchase doesn't show your card to the vendor, the number helps prevent the vendor from making a sale to someone fraudulently using the main number and expiration date, which might be stolen from the front of the card.
This is why you should never release the security code when you are present for a sales transaction. It doesn't show up when the card is scanned, or when a copy of the card is imprinted on a sales slip. People who steal this information, including some people who work at point-of-purchase businesses, don't have all the information needed to make most Internet purchases. Of course, not all companies online ask for your CVV, and it might be a good idea to only use vendors that will require this information when you shop on the Internet to support those vendors that are attempting to stop fraudulent use of your card.
Even with firewalls, security systems, and everything else in place, you cannot be 100% assured that giving out your security code on the Internet guarantees your safety. In all instances where you disclose all relevant information needed to make Internet purchases, there is a chance that people taking that information might steal it. This is why you must view the security code as only one method of attempting to prevent Internet fraud. Careful scrutiny of charges on your credit card, and not giving this information out to unknown vendors is important too.
You can be more certain of larger and more reputable vendors when you are asked for your security code. You should probably avoid giving this information out to vendors you have never heard of before, and who don't seem to have a high amount of site traffic. You may also be asked for your security code number when you purchase things on the telephone, and you should probably not give this information out if you're on a cellphone in a public venue.
It is very clear though, that if you are purchasing something in person, a retailer should never ask for, nor should you ever give out, your CVV. With your card in hand, the retailer can verify your right to use the card by asking for other identification. Any request for the CVV when the retailer can physically view your card should be met with refusal.
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Discuss this Article
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anon332270
Post 13 |
Never give your card information to anyone who is calling you. If you make the call for a purchase, it is normally a safe for you to give the security code on back. This helps them to determine that you are the owner of that card. Never give the code to a clerk at a convenience store who asks to see the card first before you swipe it. |
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anon319269
Post 12 |
Yes it safe to give over the phone. All major credit card companies have placed card security codes on their credit and debit cards as an additional security feature for merchants who accept Visa cards as payment over the telephone or online. Visa’s Card Verification Value 2 (CVV2) is a three-digit number printed on the back of every Visa credit or debit card. It is located in the top right corner of the signature panel or immediately to the right of it. It is preceded by the last four digits of the card’s account number, printed in the signature panel. CVV2 was introduced to help e-commerce and mail order and telephone order (MO / TO) merchants verify that their customers are in a physical possession of their cards at the time of the transaction. It is a feature that all major e-commerce payment gateways support and your payment processing provider should make it available to you. |
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anon271104
Post 11 |
The most idiotic thing is: Why is the code printed on the back of the card? I think some real idiot must have invented this system to help fraudsters. If you can remember your email password, why can't you remember your credit card code, which is hardly three digits? |
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anon252555
Post 10 |
The only case where it may be relatively safe is if you are entering it into a secure web page as it may be unrecorded but you have no assurance of this. You should scratch it from the back of your card, and you should never give it to a person over the phone regardless. If you do, they can purchase anything with your card as they now have all the info that you have and until it runs out of money. Even if your bank reimburses you, how long will that take, do you think? |
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anon241877
Post 9 |
I recently moved to a small town in TX, and have been asked for both my CVV and PIN numbers over the phone, as well as email. I refuse to use the CVV anywhere but a secure internet site, just as I refuse to use my PIN in anything but an ATM machine. |
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anon203405
Post 8 |
Thanks for this very useful article. I use a PayPal merchant account to receive payments (some online, some by phone or in person) and have found that many customers are extremely reluctant to give out their CSC over the phone, even though it's required in order to complete processing. Especially with our older customers, they don't want to go online to complete a purchase, so we can be stuck saying "then you'll have to come in person and pay by cash or cheque". Anyone have helpful tips for explaining to customers why you really do need the CSC? |
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anon170153
Post 7 |
I'm a cashier at Sam's Club. If our scanner won't/can't read your credit/debit card, and we have to key in your number manually, one step in the process requires us to enter the security code. At that point, we're holding the card in our hands. If you've already handed me your card, and I've manually entered the card number and expiration date into our computer terminal, what possible objection could you have to our finishing the transaction with the security code? This merely ensures that we're entering data from a legitimate card, and not simply plugging in numbers from a piece of paper. |
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anon169203
Post 6 |
Many times when making a purchase in person, the merchant will look at the back of the card for a signature. At that time he or she could easily see the CVV number. How does one protect against that? |
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anon169201
Post 5 |
I think it's a miracle that they've gotten it going so safely! But online I use PayPal too, as much as possible, and love the convenience. Put your bank's number on your cell phone contact list. I was robbed last summer and almost the first thing the policeman said was "call the bank and stop your cards." I laughed. I had already done that by the time he arrived on the scene in under 5 minutes. I had been doing something with my banker and so his number was right on my cellphone. In such a dumb moment, I'd done something accidentally smart, so put your bank's number on your cell for such moments if it is not already there. |
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anon169119
Post 4 |
This may be a stupid question, but isn't it fairly easy for any point-of-sale vendor to glance at the back of the card and get the code him/herself? Does anyone simply memorize and then remove the code from the card? |
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anon50313
Post 3 |
That's why I always go through PayPal - that way the vendor never gets your actual credit card number or bank account. |
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WGwriter
Post 2 |
Great question. You can almost always request that the call not be recorded if you don't want it to be. If you have used the card before, and this vendor knows you are a regular customer, they may not need it to process your transaction. Lots of vendors don't ask for it. I think you can't be 100% sure, so best bet is to go with your gut and decide if the vendor is trustworthy. Then, watch your credit card statement for any unusual charges (this makes good sense under any circumstances). If a vendor does record for training purposes, you should ask the vendor not to record your call. Thanks for asking that; I find I really resent these "recorded calls" although I doubt they record or use that many of them. Tricia E-C |
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anon17003
Post 1 |
Is it safe to give your 3 digit security code over the phone to a well known vendor when the conservation is "recorded for training purposes." |
