3-Digit MasterCard Security Code
 

Popup window for bids submitted using MasterCard:

As part of our commitment to your security and privacy in partnership with MasterCard, we require some additional information in order to process your request. As shown below, please enter the three-digit code which can be found after the account number on the back of your MasterCard.

Enter your 3-digit code that appears on the back of your credit card.

If you cannot locate this number, please click here to submit your request using a different credit card.
Once you click "Buy My Hotel Room" we will submit your request again. You'll know in just 15 minutes if your price is accepted. If your offer is accepted, we'll immediately charge your credit card.

They started doing this with AMEX a while ago too (though it's a four digit code with AMEX).

I think this may partly be a tactic to defeat people from bidding multiple times by using a new credit card number for each bid with the Private Payments (and similar services from other providers) service that allows you to get a new CC number for each transaction.

Sometimes the 3-digits are requested; sometimes not.

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I once worked on a credit card authorization system. Basically, the additional code (3 digit on MC, Visa; 4 on AMEX) is used as part of a fraud detection program instituted by the major credit card companies. The theory is that this number is known only to the cardholder (it is not encoded on the magnetic strip). In return, companies that submit this, and additional fraud-detection info, receive a discount on the rate they pay for credit card processing.

In Priceline's case, I can't imagine they are the target of very much fraud, so they are essentially getting this discount for nothing.

Just paid a parking ticket online and the 3 digit security code was required for V but stated that MC did not have one and not to look for it.

MC's (like other CC 3-4 digit codes) are there to ensure that the purchaser is in fact in possession of the credit card being used.

In the past, Priceline, as well as other travel sites, were victims of credit card fraud that cost them millions of dollars.

Expedia lost about $60 million at one point last year when people used stolen CC's to purchase plane tickets on their site.

Priceline was vulnerable to CC fraud because you could buy hotel rooms and plane tickets in other people's names. Therefore, the crooks would use a person's stolen CC info and name to buy tickets/rooms in their name(no doubt using a fake ID).

Diner's Club is also using the CVC2 code.

It's just too easy to purchase travel services with stolen credit cards. My mom got hit with two tickets to Vegas purchased from Vanguard over the phone. It was obvious that someone at the restaurant where she ate lunch stole the card info, called Vanguard and took off to Vegas TWO days later. If Vanguard had just asked for a CVC2 number, this never would have happened because the number is not on any receipts! I think the card companied ought to treat this like a pin and require you to memorize it.

Surely she was not held responsible for the fraudulent charges???

I too have been victimized by this type of credit card fraud, but was not expected to pay for the fraudulent charges. Some small inconvenience involved but no real disaster for me. There was a period of time when I could not use the card any more before a new one was sent to me, but I had other credit cards I could use in the interim. Also had to sign an affidavit stating I had not made or authorized the fraudulent charges.

I do agree that the credit card companies need to take more anti-fraud measures.

Kathy

The waitress at the restaurant can simply write down that CVC2 number as well. It's just one additional more number to keep track for fraud.

It's not really secure... hopefully the smartchip card will solve this problem.