If a credit card gets stolen they have access to the CVV number as easily as the 16 digits
In: Economics
Originally it was because the card number got copied when they took a carbon-copy impression of the card while the CVV didn’t, because the CVV was only printed on it, not embossed. So the CVV didn’t appear on the copies, just on the cards.
That meant it was a useful tool for telling if someone was calling in with the card in hand, or if all they had was an old copy from a previous transaction.
But since then, the card companies made a rule that no matter HOW you stored card numbers; be it a photograph, database, carbon imprint or what have you, you’re not allowed to store the CVV. Technically you obviously CAN, but if you’re caught storing them you get a hefty fine.
So that makes it still reasonably useful for determining whether the person attempting the transaction actually has the physical card present right there, vs just a saved copy of the card number.
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