01 ↗
CVV / CVV2
Card Verification Value. CVV2 is Visa’s name for the printed security code on a standard card. The magnetic-stripe CVV is a different value.
A CLEARER WAY TO UNDERSTAND CARD SECURITY
Small code.
Big question.
That little code on your card has a few names and a specific job. Find it, understand it, and know when to keep it to yourself.
This guide never asks for your card details.
01 / 03THE CARD ANATOMY
SECURITY CODE AREA
INTERACTIVE FIELD NOTE↙ TURN THE VIEW BELOW
01 / LOCATE IT
Where should
you look?
Choose a view to see where the printed security code commonly appears. Card designs vary, so follow your issuer’s instructions if yours looks different.
WHAT YOU'RE SEEING
On a standard Visa card, the three-digit CVV2 appears on the back. This illustration uses dots, never a real code.
These are illustrative positions, never a real card or code.02 / MAKE SENSE OF IT
Three letters.
One idea.
A card security code is a short printed value that may be requested during a card-not-present payment. It is one check within a broader payment process, not a promise that a transaction is safe.
02 ↗
CVC / CVC2
Card Validation Code. Another payment-brand term for a card security code used in card-not-present payments.
03 ↗
CID
Card Identification Number. American Express describes a four-digit security code on the front of its cards.
03 / USE GOOD JUDGMENT
Know when to
keep it private.
The right question is where the request is coming from. A legitimate checkout may ask for a security code; an unexpected message or call is a reason to pause.
01
Use a checkout you reached yourself.
Check the merchant and address before entering payment details. Avoid following unexpected links that ask for a code.
02
Keep the code out of messages.
Do not send a photo of your card or its code through chat, email, or a form that is not part of a payment you chose to make.
03
If something feels wrong, contact your issuer.
Use the number on your card or your issuer’s official app or website. Your issuer can advise on a missing, damaged, or exposed code.
04 / QUICK ANSWERS
A few more
things to know.
Short answers to the questions that come up most often.
Is the code the same as a PIN?
No. A PIN is a separate secret used for certain card transactions and account access. A printed card security code is a different value.
Will every checkout ask for it?
No. Whether a code is requested depends on the payment flow. A missing request alone does not prove a checkout is unsafe.
Can I work it out from the card number?
Do not try code generators or guesses. Contact the card issuer through an official channel for help with your card.