What is a Card Verification Value?

A Card Verification Value (CVV) or Card Verification Code (CVC) is a three- or four-digit security number on a credit card used to verify that the cardholder has the physical card during online or phone transactions, providing an extra layer of fraud protection. But card issuers have developed some pretty good defenses against these ne’er-do-well thieves. One of them is that little three- or four-digit number called a Card Verification Value (CVV) — or, as some call it, the Card Verification Code (CVC). It’s your job to keep that number secret.

How Card Verification Value Works in Card Transactions

The CVV/CVC was invented to put an extra lock on your credit card and keep fraudsters at bay. It’s a secret password to ensure the rightful card owner is using the card before any money changes hands.

Enhances Online Transaction Security 

That little CVV/CVC is like a guard dog, just watching over your credit card when you go to make purchases online. And even if some no-good thieves happen to get a hold of your card number, they won’t be getting very far without that magic code. These codes are a real fence against those sneaky outlaws who might get hold of your card number but don’t have their mitts on your card itself. Without the CVV, it’s like trying to get into the corral without the gate key — it just isn’t happening!

Verifies Card-Not-Present Transactions 

When you’re making an online or phone purchase of an item, the seller asks you for the card’s CVV. It helps keep fraudsters at bay with card-not-present (CNP) purchases where you don’t physically hand over your card. The setup keeps rustlers from making off with your goods should they steal your account number but not your CVV.

Where to Find the Card Verification Value on Your Cards

It’s mighty important to know where the CVV or CVC is hiding on your card because it’s the key to keeping no-good varmints from riding off with your money. Different cards stash it in different spots, so if you’re looking to protect your funds, you’d best know where to find it.

• CVV on Visa, Mastercard, and Discover: You’ll usually find the CVV on the back of Visa, Mastercard, and Discover cards next to the signature panel. It’s a three-digit number that stands off by itself, separate from the main card number, silent but deadly against would-be hackers and fraudsters. It may be only a tiny number, but it is like the lock on a cattle gate — without it, the rustlers can’t make off with your wealth. If you aren’t paying attention to it, you might as well leave your safe wide open!

• CVV for American Express Cards: Things are a little different if you’re using an American Express card. The CVV — or,  in this case, CVV — sits on the card’s front, a four-digit number above the card number. It’s about as hard to miss as a coyote in a henhouse, and Amex likes to make sure you can find it without breaking a sweat. So, it’s a little more prominent compared to other cards. It’s as if Amex is waving a flag, saying, “Here I am!” With Amex, you look at the card front to get the code you need.

• Differences in CVV/CVC Formats: The length and placement of CVV/CVC codes depend on the card issuer. Some cards, such as Visa, Discover, and Mastercard, use only three digits, while Amex goes the extra mile with four. 

Some cards, such as virtual ones, do not even physically display a CVV. Instead, each transaction is accorded a new number. Source