What the CVV actually does

The three or four digit code on your card is a check that the person typing the number is holding the physical card. Merchants may ask for it to approve a purchase, but card network rules forbid them from storing it after the transaction settles. That single rule is why a stolen card number without the code is much harder to use online. Treat the code the way you treat your PIN: it is for you to enter, not to share, text, or save.

How to Sell CVV Shop for Beginners

Before you start

  • Use a current browser and keep it updated.
  • Turn on transaction alerts in your card issuer's app.
  • Have one card you use for online purchases and keep its limit modest.
  • Know the customer service number on the back of that card.

How to protect your code at checkout

  1. Type the retailer's address yourself instead of following a link from an email or ad.
  2. Confirm the padlock and the exact domain in the address bar before you enter anything.
  3. Enter the card number, expiry, and CVV only on the payment page, never in a chat box, contact form, or email reply.
  4. Decline any request to send a photo of the front or back of your card.
  5. Check the amount and the merchant name on the confirmation screen before you submit.
  6. Save the order confirmation and note the charge that appears on your statement.
  7. Log out of the store account when you finish, especially on a shared or public device.

Red flags worth walking away from

  • A price far below every other seller for the same item.
  • A checkout that asks for your CVV by phone or messaging app.
  • A page that loads the payment form from a different domain.
  • Pressure to pay by gift card, wire, or crypto transfer.
  • An email claiming your order failed that asks you to re-enter card details.

If your card data leaks

  1. Call the number on the back of your card and ask for the card to be frozen.
  2. Request a replacement card with a new number and code.
  3. Review statements for small test charges, which often come before larger ones.
  4. Change the password on any shopping account that stored the card.
  5. File a report with the Federal Trade Commission if money was taken.

No legitimate seller needs your CVV outside a payment page, and no legitimate shop sells card numbers. If a site offers to sell you one, it is selling stolen data and the transaction is a crime.

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