CVV CID is a security feature on many credit cards in the form of a three- to four-digit verification number. CVV and CID are two different terms for the same concept, known as card verification value or card identification. Other terms include card security code or card code verification. In certain types of transactions, people may be asked to provide the CVV CID to confirm that they are holding the physical card, as this reduces the risk of fraud.
There are several places on a card where a CVV CID may be printed. A common location is on the back of the card, just above the signature panel. The code will be located in the far right corner, separated from the credit card number, and may be enclosed in a small box marked with CVV or CID. Another place is the front of the card, where it will be printed above the credit card number. Certain types of cards do not use this security feature.
A major concern with credit card fraud is the risk of people acquiring card numbers and expiration dates and using them to make purchases remotely, online or over the phone. Asking for the CVV CID requires someone to have the card in hand to relay the code, although people interested in fraud could also try to harvest the security codes for the cards they intend to use. Requesting this code can provide an extra layer of security for transactions, as it requires another step on the part of people committing fraud.
In cases where a card does not have a CVV CID, people can leave the field requesting the verification number blank, or fill it in with 000 or 999. Usually companies requesting this code will provide information about what customers should do if they are using cards that do not have a CVV code, and in some cases, things like Internet checkout carts may be designed to dynamically update this field depending on the type of card involved, changing the number of spaces from three to four for different cards or blanking it out entirely if the customer is using a card without a CVV.
It is advisable for people to make copies of the fronts and backs of their credit cards so they can refer to these copies in the event of a theft or loss. Any suspected compromise to a credit card should be reported immediately so the credit card company can watch the account more closely.