Is CVC and CVV the Same? What to Know About Security Codes
Clarify the confusion around CVC, CVV, and other card security codes. Understand their vital role in protecting your financial transactions.
When making purchases, especially online, consumers often encounter terms like CVC, CVV, and CID. These different naming conventions can cause confusion about whether they refer to the same security feature. Understanding these codes is important for secure transactions and to clarify their purpose. This article aims to demystify these terms and explain their role in safeguarding your financial information.
Understanding Card Verification Codes
Card verification codes are three or four-digit security features printed on payment cards. Their primary function is to confirm that the person using the card is the legitimate cardholder. These codes are printed flat on the card surface, not embossed like the main card number. This design helps differentiate them from other card details and makes them harder to skim or copy.
The codes verify the cardholder has physical possession of the card, especially when it is not physically presented to a merchant. This adds a layer of security, making it more difficult for unauthorized individuals to use stolen card numbers. Merchants often request these codes during online or telephone orders to validate the transaction.
Different Names, Same Purpose
CVC (Card Validation Code), CVV (Card Verification Value), and CID (Card Identification Number) refer to the same security feature. Other similar terms include CVV2, CVC2, and CSC (Card Security Code). The differences in names arise from branding conventions adopted by various card networks.
For example, Visa uses CVV or CVV2, Mastercard uses CVC or CVC2, while American Express and Discover often refer to it as CID. Regardless of the specific acronym, the function of these codes remains identical across all major card types. They serve as a security measure to authenticate transactions, especially those conducted remotely.
Locating the Codes on Your Card
Finding these security codes on your payment card is straightforward, though their exact placement and number of digits can vary by card network. For most Visa, Mastercard, and Discover cards, the code is a three-digit number. You will find it on the back of the card, usually within or to the right of the signature strip. This placement aims to keep the code less visible during routine card usage.
American Express cards feature a four-digit code, often called the CID. This code is found on the front of the card, usually printed above the primary account number. These codes are printed, distinguishing them from the raised numbers of the card itself.
The Security Function of These Codes
Card verification codes enhance the security of transactions, particularly in “card-not-present” scenarios like online shopping or phone orders. When you provide this code during a remote transaction, it helps verify physical access to the card, reducing fraud risk from stolen card numbers. This mechanism defends against unauthorized purchases where a physical card is not swiped or inserted.
Merchants are prohibited from storing these codes after a transaction is authorized. This rule, mandated by the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS), means your card verification code should not be compromised even if a merchant’s database is breached.
This prohibition contrasts with other card details like the primary account number, which can sometimes be stored by merchants for recurring payments or card-on-file services. Unlike a Personal Identification Number (PIN), which authenticates card-present transactions, card verification codes are designed for environments where the card is not physically handled.