What is CVV2, CVC2 code on payment cards?

One of the advantages of developing modern technologies is that you can now make purchases without leaving home. It is enough only to select the goods on the site of the desired online store, specify the place and date of delivery, and also make a payment. The last point implies that in a special form you need to fill out the card data, including the security code. On different sites it can be called differently: CVV2 / CVC2, security code, etc. This article provides information on what CVV2, CVC2 code is and where to look for it. This data is very important in the implementation of any online payment, because the incorrectly entered code will lead to the fact that the payment will not be made.

Types of codes

Each payment system uses an individual secret code. The exception is Maestro cards. There is no security code on them. The most popular codes of bank cards:

• CVV2 (Card Verification Value 2) - on Visa cards;
• CVC2 (Card Verification Code 2) - MasterCard system code;
• CID (Card Identification) - American Express code.

What is CVC2, CVV2 code and where to look for it

CVV2 or CVC2 is a special code that is located on the back of the card, on a small light strip, next to the signature bar, immediately after the full number or the last 4 digits from the card number. It consists of 3 digits and is an independent element of protection. It is designed to verify the compliance of user data with the map data. What CVV2, CVC2 and its location on the map can be looked at in detail in the images presented in this section.

CID is the identification code that is on the right side of the American Express card.

It is very important not to confuse the PIN code of the card with the security code. The latter can not be read from the magnetic strip of the card or chip, it is not on the check. It can not be changed in the same way as a PIN. It changes only with the release of a new card.

If the question arises, what is CVV2, CVC2 and how it differs from CVV1 / CVC1, then the answer is the carrier. CVV1 and CVC1 are used to check the card when paying directly at retail outlets, and CVV2 and CVC2 - when paying for goods via the Internet, including using virtual cards.

Why it is needed

The secret code helps to confirm that the customer is the true owner of the card. This system is used to prevent fraudulent payments made by a stolen or electronically copied card. It is an additional precautionary measure. The great advantage of code is that it is printed in flat letters, rather than convex, like the card number. It can not be touched. As another precaution, banks can block suspiciously large or made in an unusual place of purchase.

Answering the question, what is CVV2, CVC2 on the bank card of Sberbank Visa Virtual or MasterCard Virtual, which do not have physical media, it should be noted that the secret code on such cards is sent as SMS to a mobile phone. In rare cases, it is displayed on the screen when you issue a card.

What to do if CVV2 / CVC2 is not on the card

After understanding what the code CVV2, CVC2 is on the bank card, we turn to the question of what to do if it is not on the card. First of all, you need to check again the type of card. As it was said before, this code is absent on Maestro cards. Also there is no code on debit cards of the first level (with the prefix Electron or Electronic in the title). These cards were originally intended only for withdrawing cash from ATMs, rather than paying for online purchases. While issuing Visa Electron CVV2 is still forming, it is not visible on the card, and the possibility of paying for goods via the Internet is determined by the issuing bank.

If there is no security code on the card, you can try to purchase the product on the website of the store that accepts Maestro cards, or spend time searching for an online store that does not require entering a secret security code when making payments. Some and the second are rare, but they exist, as some buyers are afraid to enter a security code when making online payments.

Fraud on the Internet

For cardholders, both virtual and physical, payment security is of great importance. Therefore, it is so important to know what CVC2, CVV2 code is. Although it provides additional security measures, fraud cases still occur. Unclean in the hand "craftsmen" is enough to learn only the details of the card in order to gain access to money. They receive these details through phishing, that is, under the guise of known sites and portals, massively send messages with the request to provide passwords, logins and credit card information. The letters contain links to fake pages on the Internet. By clicking on the link and entering your details, you can lose all the money in your account. With the help of phishing scammers steal data from not only virtual plastic cards, but also those cards that are physically in the purse.

With the development of financial technologies, payment systems are actively implementing 3d-Secure-technology, which complements the basic methods of payment protection. Before the transaction, a password is generated, which is sent to the cardholder as SMS to the mobile phone. Payment is made only after entering the password in the appropriate form.

Summary

The secret code on payment cards is an additional precaution for making online payments. It consists of three or four numbers, located on the back or front side of the card (depending on the type of card). Without this code, you can not make a payment in most online stores. That's what CVV2, CVC2 code is.