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Credit Card Security Features

The first Visa credit cards issued were of a basic common design using the Visa corporate colours of blue, white & gold as a banded credit card face. Apart from the printed names of Visa and the Issuing Member Bank, the only other additions to the credit card were the relevant embossed details of account number, cardholder name and expiry date.

No security features were incorporated in the design of the original credit card consequently, in a relatively short period of time, counterfeit credit cards imitating the genuine item had been manufactured and were being widely used.

With no special features to overcome, a counterfeit credit card could be made with little effort and provide a very favourable likeness to a genuine credit card. To counteract this counterfeit threat Visa has continually added various security features to make Visa credit cards secure and much more difficult to criminally reproduce without detection. The current Visa credit card design has through time developed into a sophisticated anti-counterfeit product.

Dealing with Negative Information and Errors

A Visa account number may be 16 or 13 digits long and will start with the number 4. A MasterCard account number is 16 digits and will statr with the number 5. The first six digits of the number are referred to as the Base or Bank Identification Number, more commonly known as the BIN. A BIN is unique and identifies the bank that issued the account number.

With a few product exceptions, all credit cards will have the account number embossed on the face of the credit card.

Also embossed on the credit card will be the name of the cardholder and the date that the credit card expires, known as the expiry date.

In addition too these details there are five (5) security features present on the face of a Visa credit card.

Hologram

The most visual is a three dimensional hologram of a dove for Visa credit cards and World map for MasterCard credit cards that is situated at the right-hand side of the credit card. When the credit card is tilted the hologram will give an impression of movement in the dove's wingtip or Globes turning and show a change of colour. The last four digits of the embossed account are incorporated in the hologram.

Micro-printing

At the top or bottom right-hand corner of the credit card, above or below the hologram, there is the Visa or MasterCard Logo. Surrounding the Logo is a security feature known as Micro -Printing. This fine line printing, only distinguishable through magnification, is an alpha numeric repeated sequence providing specific identification and verification details, including the type of product and the credit card printer of the credit card.

Ultra-violet

In the centre of the credit card there is a ultra-violet security feature. A fluorescent image of a dove for Visa and letters MC for MasterCard will be seen when ultra-violet light is passed over the face of the credit card.

Printed BIN

Another highly visible security feature is the Printed BIN. This is a four digit printed number that matches the first four digits of the embossed account number. The Printed BIN will be either above or below the start of the embossed account number. In the future all Printed BINs will be located in the lower position.

Credit Cards: How It Works

Visa " V" MasterCard "M"

Immediately after the expiry date there is a special single embossed security character, commonly referred to as the “Flying or Visa V” and MasterCard M". The embossing die set required to emboss this feature is strictly controlled.

The magnetic stripe on the back of the credit card is encoded with various information. This allows a transaction when the magnetic stripe is read at an electronic point of sale at a merchant. The information includes the account number and expiry date which must correspond with those embossed on the face of the credit card. Also Included on the magnetic strip is one of three security features on the rear of the credit card.

Credit Card Verification Value (CVV)

The credit card Verification Value (CVV) is an algorithmically calculated number that can be verified by the issuing bank when a transaction is completed through an electronic point of sale terminal. This check allows the bank to confirm that the information is the same as that encoded on the magnetic stripe of the genuine credit card.

Signature Panel

The signature panel has the word “Visa” in blue and gold at 45 degrees on a white background. If the panel is tampered with to remove a genuine signature then the word “VOID” will show through.

The genuine cardholder is required to sign the signature panel on receipt of the credit card. With the exception of transactions where it is permissible for the credit card to be absent, mail or telephone orders, the signature on the credit card is checked by merchants against the signed sales voucher at the time of purchase to verify the genuine cardholder is using the credit card.

Credit Card Verification Value 2 (CVV 2)

On the panel there is a reverse inclined indent printed number known as the credit card Verification Value 2 (CVV2). Part of this number is an algorithmically calculation which the issuer can verify as genuine. This value can be checked when a merchant is required to refer to the issuer of an account for authorisation of a transaction where an electronic approval is not available or permissible.

Counterfeit credit cards can be easily detected by proper examination of the security features incorporated on the credit card. In particular the scrutiny of the hologram and the absence of the Printed Bin will give a strong indication if the credit card is genuine or counterfeit.

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