What is a (CVV) Credit Card Code?

The card code is the last 3-digit number located on the back of your card on or above your signature line. To help reduce fraud in the card-not-present environment, credit card companies have introduced a card code program.  VisaŽ calls this code Card Verification Value (CVV) and MasterCardŽ calls it Card Validation Code (CVC). This number helps validate that a genuine card is being used during a transaction, especially in situations like mail orders, telephone orders or Internet orders where the card is not present.