Maria Adams, Credit Cards Moderator
@m_adams
Your security code is the 3- or 4-digit number that is printed on your credit card, separate from the card number. This number commonly referred to as CVV, is used in combination with the card number and expiration date to authenticate your card when you make a purchase online or over the phone.
The location of your credit card’s security code depends on what network the card is on. You can find your CVV number on the back of your credit card unless your card belongs to the American Express network. In this case, the CVV is the number on the front of the card, above and to the right of the card number. It’s worth noting that American Express cards have a four-digit CVV number, while cards that belong to the rest of the major card networks (Visa, Mastercard, etc.) have a three-digit CVV number.
Why Credit Card Security Codes Are Important
Keep in mind that the CVV number of a credit card is a safety feature, so be sure to protect it. Never provide your code to anyone but a merchant when you’re paying them. You should never send it in an e-mail, either, which is almost always an unsecured transmission.
If someone has access to your card number, expiration date, and security code, an online merchant would have no reason to suspect a purchase is fraudulent. The good news is that most credit cards give you a $0 fraud liability guarantee. As long as you report any unauthorized purchases to your card’s issuer, you won’t have to pay for them.
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