The Card Verification Value (CVV2) is a three or four digit number printed on the back of Visa, Mastercard and Discover cards. This number is not related to the credit card number embossed on the front of your card. The verification value is not encoded in the magnetic stripe on your card and cannot be computed from the card number on the front. The reason for the CVV2 is to reduce fraud. The theory is that you would only know the verification value if you had access to the actual card.

To find the card verification value, see one of the the pictures below.