Merchants and consumers loses billions of dollars each year due to Identity theft. Implementing the latest and best fraud prevention tools is of utmost importance for the businesses. Here is a list of the most widely used fraud prevention tools.

Card Security Verification

Card security verification collects the 3- or 4-digit numeric code on the credit card provided at the time of purchase. Credit card processing companies submit the card verification request from the merchant directly to the specific credit card association. The card security value is then compared to the card issuer’s value on file. Credit card verification programs are offered by the major card associations and are known as CVV2 (Visa), CVC2 (MasterCard), CID (American Express) and CID (Discover Card).

Card Brand Data Security

Visa’s CISP (Cardholder Information Security Program) and MasterCard’s SDP (Site Data Protection) programs are security initiatives that require merchants to safeguard card data. Visa and MasterCard, along with the other card brands, have adopted common industry security requirements referred to as the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standards (PCI DSS).

Transaction Scoring

This risk management solution combines predictive scoring technology with access to third party databases, rules based processing, and expert human insight to provide merchants with a clear recommendation on whether to accept, deny or challenge a transaction. Merchants also gain access to a web-based tool, providing detailed information on each transaction to determine its viability.

Identity Authentication

The service creates a virtual ‘card present’ environment by performing real-time authentication of a purchaser’s identity. Identity authentication detects identification fraud by using proprietary databases, statistical analysis and government issued identification. Identity authentication prevents would-be criminals from stealing a consumer’s identity as well as deterring consumers from making an authorized purchase then later denying the transaction. In addition, selected services provide a guarantee against fraud losses.

Address Verification Service

Address Verification Service (AVS), a risk management tool for merchants, accepts transactions when neither the card nor the cardholder are present, or when the card is present but its magnetic stripe cannot be read by a terminal at the point of sale. Merchants submit the AVS request through their credit card merchant processor directly to the specific credit card association for address comparison. The Credit Card Association then verifies the cardholder’s billing address on file at the card issuer.

Credit Card Authentication

Both Visa and MasterCard offer authentication services enabling issuers to verify a cardholder’s account ownership during an online purchase. With Verified by Visa (VbV) and MasterCard Secure Code, consumers are assured that using a bankcard online is as safe as using it at a local merchant. And merchants are fully protected from issuer chargebacks on transactions which have been fully authenticated. Since the transaction is authenticated by the issuing bank, the merchant will be paid. Merchants no longer need to bear the risk or the cost of fraud. When a cardholder shops at a participating VbV or SecureCode merchant site, the checkout process remains the same until the “buy” button is selected. If the bankcard is registered with a participating issuer, consumers will be asked for their VbV password or their SecureCode issuer specific access credentials. Through this simple checkout process, the bankcard issuer confirms a consumer’s identity in real time.

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