Scratch out your credit card CVV number now: security expert

Professor Basie Von Solms has advised consumers to scratch out the CVV number which is displayed on the back of their credit card.

Professor Basie Von Solms, Director of the Centre for Cyber Security at the University of Johannesburg, has advised consumers to scratch out the CVV (Card Verification Value) number which is displayed on the back of their credit card.

The CVV number is an anti-fraud security feature which helps online retailers verify that you are in possession of the credit card you are using.

The CVV code is typically a three-digit number located on the back of MasterCard, Visa, and other credit or debit cards.

Von Solms said that anyone who steals your credit card has access to all the information needed to make an online purchase: your name, credit card number, expiry date, and the CVV number.

However, if you remove the CVV code from the back of your credit card, the criminal will not be able to purchase goods online from retailers which require the code.

Von Solms said consumers must memorize or write down the CVV number somewhere safe before removing it from the card.