----- Original Message -----
From: "Owen DeLong" <owen@delong.com>
How does having the CVV number prove the card is in my possession?
I have memorized the CVV in addition to the 16 digits of the cards I commonly use and routinely enter them into online ordering without retrieving the card.
What prevents a fraudster from writing the CVV down along with the other card data?
Nothing, but lots of fraud scenarios don't involve a bad actor taking physical posession of your card: magstripe skimmers and charge-slip carbons being only 2 off-hand examples. Clearly, the percentage of fraud it blocks is more than the amount it costs. Cheers, -- jra -- Jay R. Ashworth Baylink jra@baylink.com Designer The Things I Think RFC 2100 Ashworth & Associates http://baylink.pitas.com 2000 Land Rover DII St Petersburg FL USA http://photo.imageinc.us +1 727 647 1274