Credit Card Security Code

One great thing about paying with your Barclaycard is that you don't have to go to the shop in person.  If you're too busy, you can carry out the transaction by phone, fax, mail order or over the Internet.

The only problem is that this facility has opened up a whole range of new possibilities for credit card fraud. Now a criminal doesn't even have to steal your card to run up huge bills on your account – all they need are your card details.

Proof of your identity if you aren't there in person

We don't want your convenience to become a criminal's advantage. So we've introduced two facilities that provide extra proof during remote transactions that the person ordering is the genuine cardholder:

• Card Security Code
• Cardholder Address Verification

Card Security Code

All our Barclaycards carry an extra piece of information - the Card Security Code. This Code is not printed anywhere and does not appear on receipts from card transactions, so only the person in physical possession of card could know it.

How does it work?

If you've got your Barclaycard in front of you, flip it over. You'll see a row of digits printed over the top of the signature strip.  The final 3 digits represent your Card Security Code.

• When you are buying stuff by phone, fax, mail order or over the Internet, you will be asked to quote the Code together with your full statement address
• Sometimes we will ask you for the Code when you contact us by phone, to verify your identity
• Don't confuse the Code with your PIN (Personal Identification Number) – you can't use the Code at ATMs
• Don't quote the Code to anyone other than a genuine retailer or Barclaycard Customer Services

Cardholder Address Verification

This service works with the Card Security Code to verify your identity.

How does it work?

• It enables retailers to check that the address provided by the cardholder matches the one to which we send your Barclaycard statement
• This doesn't affect your delivery address – you can ask to have your purchases delivered elsewhere.