Call Us:(866) 925-5007
AVS and CVV2 Codes Part 1
The Internet today is growing faster than anyone can believe. With the growing number of people using the Internet for all their shopping needs, comes a growing number of scammers out to get yours and your customers information for their own personal gain. While credit companies are doing more and more to insure the consumer from identity theft, there’s not much help for the merchants in the equation who also suffer.
The Address Verification System (AVS) and the Card Verification Value (CVV2) are steps taken to be sure that you are safe from credit card fraud and the resulting chargebacks that can harm your online business. When you send a request to the AVS, it verifies certain numbers in the cardholder’s address on file and the address they typed in. These numbers include the street number, the zip code, and sometimes even the apartment number. The CVV2 further checks the validity of the transaction by requesting the code on the card (for American Express it is the four digits on the front o the card, for Visa, MasterCard, Discover card, and Diners Club cards it is the three digits on the back.) If the purchase is being made by someone who has stolen the number both the AVS and the CVV2 will send back a response alerting you of a possible fraudulent transaction.
Unlike the AVS, the only place the CVV2 is located is on the actual card. Therefore, the only way to have the correct CVV2 number is to physically have the credit card. Consequently, many merchant and companies trust the CVV2 over AVS because it is much easier to steal a person’s address over the actual card. It is prudent, though, to use as many forms of protection you can. For instance, a credit card thief may have the the physical card, but not any of the information. In that case, they will easily type in the right CVV2 while the address could be completely wrong.
The Address Verification System (AVS) and the Card Verification Value (CVV2) are steps taken to be sure that you are safe from credit card fraud and the resulting chargebacks that can harm your online business. When you send a request to the AVS, it verifies certain numbers in the cardholder’s address on file and the address they typed in. These numbers include the street number, the zip code, and sometimes even the apartment number. The CVV2 further checks the validity of the transaction by requesting the code on the card (for American Express it is the four digits on the front o the card, for Visa, MasterCard, Discover card, and Diners Club cards it is the three digits on the back.) If the purchase is being made by someone who has stolen the number both the AVS and the CVV2 will send back a response alerting you of a possible fraudulent transaction.
Unlike the AVS, the only place the CVV2 is located is on the actual card. Therefore, the only way to have the correct CVV2 number is to physically have the credit card. Consequently, many merchant and companies trust the CVV2 over AVS because it is much easier to steal a person’s address over the actual card. It is prudent, though, to use as many forms of protection you can. For instance, a credit card thief may have the the physical card, but not any of the information. In that case, they will easily type in the right CVV2 while the address could be completely wrong.
- Our easy application process takes about 5 minutes
- Accounts are usually approved within 24 hours.
- Save time & eliminate hours of bookwork each week as QuickBooks does the accounting for you.
Online Instant Quote
