CVV numbers

[jra at baylink.com (Jay Ashworth)]

----- Original Message -----
> From: "Owen DeLong" <owen at delong.com>

> How does having the CVV number prove the card is in my possession?
> 
> I have memorized the CVV in addition to the 16 digits of the cards I
> commonly use and routinely enter them into online ordering without
> retrieving the card.
> 
> What prevents a fraudster from writing the CVV down along with the
> other card data?

Nothing, but lots of fraud scenarios don't involve a bad actor taking
physical posession of your card: magstripe skimmers and charge-slip 
carbons being only 2 off-hand examples.  Clearly, the percentage of fraud
it blocks is more than the amount it costs.

Cheers,
-- jra
-- 
Jay R. Ashworth                  Baylink                       jra at baylink.com
Designer                     The Things I Think                       RFC 2100
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