Card validation value (CVV2)

what is cvv2? the card validation value 2 (cvv2) service provides a critical security layer in card payments cross river provides cvv2 validation to ensure safer credit and debit card transactions cvv2 is a unique 3 digit (or in the case of amex 4 digit) code printed on the back of all cards during online transactions where the card isn’t physically present, cvv2 helps authenticate the cardholder it does this by making sure the cardholder has the card with them at the time they are initiating the transaction this deters fraud it also increases cardholder confidence when consumers make online purchases or card payments why is cvv2 important? cvv2 confirms that the person using a card physically has the card the cvv2 appears only on the back of the actual card and in the issuing bank’s files it doesn’t exist anywhere else this way, requiring the cvv2 code adds an extra level of protection against unauthorized transactions initiated from stolen card credentials how does cvv2 work? when a consumer makes an online or phone transaction, the merchant requires them to provide the cvv2 code the merchant provides this code as part of the transaction data sent to cross river the card issuing bank, in turn, checks that the cvv2 code the consumer enters matches the code on record then, the issuing bank returns a match or mismatch response finally, cross river provides this matching response to the merchant note that card issuers may still approve transactions with mismatched cvv2 codes it is the merchant’s responsibility to consider the matching data when deciding if to proceed with the transaction what are the key benefits of cvv2? stronger security cvv2 protects transactions by requiring the unique code for verification deterring fraud cvv2 discourages unauthorized users from trying to make transactions that are not allowed card not present protection cvv2 isn’t stored electronically or magnetically this way, it protects online and phone transactions it does this by requiring a code that only the cardholder should know consumer confidence consumers feel more secure using their cards knowing cvv2 is available and being enforced by merchants and banks reduced fraud costs preventing fraud prevents loss of money for everyone involved in the payment chain this holds true for the consumer, merchant, and bank