Ali Raza Khan 
The payment system through the internet has turned out to be a significant aspect of everyday life, and with ease comes the burden of sustaining the confidentiality of financial data. The CVC on a card is one of the factors that secures card transactions. Shopping on e-commerce sites, travel reservations, and even allows you to pay with mobile wallets, this three-digit code is very powerful in fraud prevention. A significant number of users are yet to know fully what the CVC entails, where it is located, and why it is necessary to use it during online transactions. This guideline details all the facts about CVC on a card, its purpose, variations, and how to have a safe digital transaction.
What Is CVC on a Card?
CVC on a card is an abbreviation of Card Verification Code. It is a special three-digit security number that is printed on debit and credit cards. The main idea of this code is to ensure that the individual who has been making an online or card-not-present transaction is holding the physical card.
This code is not embossed or stored in the magnetic stripe as compared to the main card number, hence it is difficult to steal by cybercriminals. Requesting the CVC on the card gives an extra level of protection against unauthorized usage of card information when requested by a merchant.
Where do you find the CVC on the Debit/Credit Card?
The CVC is put on the back side of the card, usually close to the signature field, by most banks and card networks (such as Visa and Mastercard). It has three digits printed alone of the larger card number of 16 digits.
But in the case of American Express cards, the code is written on the front side and generally consists of four digits. Although names might vary depending on the type of card, the intent is the same: to provide confirmation that the owner of the card is authentic and alive.
CVC Codes under different names
Although the most widespread is by card using the term CVC, card networks and card banks call it slightly different, like:
- CVV (Card Verification Value)
- CSC (Card Security Code)
- Card Identification Number at American Express
Each of these variations is one and the same idea, i.e., a security number that prevents online payment fraud.
What Is the Significance of the CVC on the Card?
Nowadays, billions of transactions are being conducted online. Phishing, skimming, and data breaches are some of the methods used by criminals to steal card details. In case somebody obtains the number of the card and the expiry date, he/she cannot make any transaction without the CVC on the card.
It is because of the following that the CVC code is vital:
- Deters unauthorized online purchase of goods.
- Free This provides an extra security layer on top of PIN and card number.
- Assists banks in detecting suspicious transactions.
- Guarantees cardholders when making card-not-present payments.
The payment systems verify by encrypting the CVC of a user once he or she inserts the card to ensure that the transaction is legitimate.
Protecting your CVC Code: Safety Tips
The most important things to remember in order to keep your card secure are:
- Do not give your CVC to someone on the card, including the bank employees.
- Do not type card details on websites that you do not know.
- Do not store payment data on common or shared machines.
- Implement OTP authentication of online transactions.
- Report your card within 24 hours if it is lost or stolen.
