Understanding Credit Card Validation Codes: Security and Examples

What Is a Validation Code?

A validation code is one of the security measures deployed to reduce credit card fraud. It is a three- or four-digit code printed on the front or back of a credit card. Validation codes are provided by the credit card issuer as a means to protect credit card transactions conducted by phone or online. A consumer using a credit card enters the validation code on their card as requested by the merchant.

According to the latest Nilson Report, credit card fraud has increased, reaching nearly $29 billion in 2019 and projected to rise to around $38 billion by 2027. The United States accounts for a significant portion of recently reported losses, at nearly 34%.

Understanding the Functionality of Validation Codes

As online shopping continues to grow in popularity, the threat of identity theft and other forms of credit card fraud has become increasingly severe. One measure taken to try to mitigate this risk is the use of validation codes when making credit card purchases.

In a typical transaction, a customer will be asked to provide their name, billing address, card number, expiration date, and validation code. Although many of these details, such as the name and address, could be obtained from other sources, the card number, expiration date, and validation code can theoretically only be obtained from possessing the card itself. As an added measure, the validation code is generally printed on the back of the card, making it more difficult for would-be thieves to glean all the necessary information from a single photograph of the credit card.

To process the credit card transaction and verify the identity of the user, the entered CVV is compared against the card number.

To further enhance these security measures, consumer protection laws prevent merchants from storing customers’ validation codes after a purchase has been made—although unscrupulous sellers may still record this information illegally. An additional measure of protection is provided by the personal identification numbers (PINs) that cardholders must enter when making payments using point-of-sale (POS) terminals.

Practical Applications and Examples of Validation Codes

Although security measures such as the validation code raise the difficulty of committing identity theft or making purchases using a stolen credit card, they are unlikely to deter a sufficiently motivated thief. In practice, credit card fraud has continued to climb in recent years, surpassing 393,207 reported cases in 2020. The United States is by far the most acutely affected country, representing nearly 34% of global cases.

Merchants are not allowed to store card security codes after a customer makes a purchase, which provides extra protection against credit card theft. Still, validation codes can be stolen, and cardholders should protect their card’s validation code just as they would protect the card number and expiration date. The validation code is a key piece of data that can enable thieves to make fraudulent transactions with someone else’s card.

However, if a thief does use a stolen card, the cardholder's liability is limited to $50 under the Fair Credit Billing Act (FCBA), depending on when the theft is reported. Customers who realize their card is missing, or detect suspicious or unauthorized purchases or other activity, should contact their credit card issuer immediately to report the problem and alert them to a possible case of fraud. The card issuer can then cancel or deactivate the card.

The Bottom Line

Validation codes provide an extra layer of security by verifying card possession during transactions. The idea is to combat identity theft and credit card fraud by requiring consumers to provide validation codes when making a purchase online or by phone. Codes are generally found on the back of most credit cards. American Express cards present their codes on the front.

It's important that consumers safeguard their validation codes. For added security, merchants are prohibited from storing validation codes after you've made your purchase. According to the Fair Credit Billing Act, financial loss from credit card fraud is limited to $50, though exceptions apply.