When you order a pizza or a new pair of shoes online, something similar happens: The merchant requests the CVV code, which is a three- or four-digit number on the front or back of the credit card.

Why do retailers need this data? It's just an additional security layer to ensure that your credit card or debit card information isn't used to make transactions in your name.

Your credit and debit cards each have their CVV code. This number, also known as your card authentication value, gives retailers further assurance that you are the one using your card and not someone else has stolen your details.

When you buy anything online or over the internet, the store will ask for not just your name on the invoice, your credit or debit card number, and the expiration date, but also your CVV number.

If you lose your card or it is stolen, your CVV number will not cover you. The CVV value on the back of your card can be conveniently found by another person and used to make transactions under your
name.

However, suppose anyone has downloaded your credit or debit card details online and is attempting to make a payment. In that case, merchants will refuse to process such transactions until they
already have your card's CVV number.

Your CVV number is three digits for both Visa, MasterCard, and Discover credit and debit cards. American Express cards have a
four-digit CVV number.

What happens to the CVV on my Credit Card?

It's simple to locate your CVV code. Your CVV number will be displayed on the back of your credit or debit cards at the end
of the signature strip whether you use MasterCard, Visa, or Discover cards.

If you're using an American Express passport, the position of your CVV number is different. A four-digit CVV number is printed on the face of these passports, directly above the card account number.

Are my CVV and Pin the same?

Don't confuse the CVV code with the PIN on your debit or credit card. A PIN is a 4 digit value that debit cardholders use for making payments or withdrawing cash from ATMs. They can also use a PIN to
complete a cash advance at an ATM using their credit cards.

Few credit cards, while uncommon, enable cardholders to enter their PINs if they make a transaction.

CVV, CID and CSC Codes
A variety knows CVV codes of acronyms, the most common of which are CID and CSC. These abbreviations identify different credit cards.

The umbrella acronym CSC, which stands for card protection code, encompasses all of the credit cards’ identifying codes.
On Visa-branded cards, these three-digit CSCs are referred to as CVV codes (Card Verification Value). CVCs, or card authentication codes, are the three-digit codes used by MasterCard. The CID, or card identification code on American Express and Discover cards, is a three-digit code.

What will i do to keep my credit card information safe?

If you let your CVV, CID, or CVC numbers fall into the wrong hands, they won't be able to defend you. Here are few pointers on keeping these crucial four- or three-digit codes away from prying eyes.

Don't give out your number to anyone. Never hand out your
CVV number to someone who calls you, even though they happen to be from your credit card company. Credit card firms will not contact you to request this material. It's a scammer if anyone does. Let the phone down.

Don't be fooled by email phishing scams. Never give out your credit or debit card particulars, including your CVV code, to strangers via email. Scammers also send phishing emails to victims, requesting that they confirm their credit card details to avoid account closures. This is just a ruse. Banks would never challenge you for this knowledge over the internet.

Scam emails often ask you to click on a connection. You
will be asked to enter personal or financial details on the page you arrive at.
If you've done that, a scammer would have access to your personal information and will be able to make transactions under your name.

Here's an illustration. When you give your card to anyone to pass it through a terminal in another place — say, at a casino, a sports event, a pub, or a valet — and write down or take a snapshot of it, spammers may steal your card details.

Why is it preferable to have a credit card? A robber who obtains your debit card details will quickly deplete your bank account. When your credit card details are stolen, hackers will use them to buy a series of CVV dumps charges in your name. The money they're cheating, though, belongs to your credit card company, not to you. It's

not your own money that's being held hostage when you fight these false accusations, which you can do.