Security

Credit card security is based on privacy of the actual credit card number. This means that whenever a person other than the card owner reads the number, security is potentially compromised. Since this happens most of the time when a transaction is made, security is low. However, a user with access to just the number can only make certain types of transactions. Merchants will often accept credit card numbers without extra verification for mail order, but then the delivery address will be recorded, so the thief must make sure he can have the goods delivered to an anonymous address (i.e. not his own) and collect them without being detected. Some merchants will accept a credit card number for in-store purchases, whereupon access to the number allows easy fraud, but many require the card itself to be present, and require a signature. Thus, a stolen card can be cancelled, and if this is done quickly, no fraud can take place in this way. For internet purchases, there is sometimes the same level of security as for mail order (number only) hence requiring only that the fraudster take care about collecting the goods, but often there are additional measures. The main one is to require a security PIN with the card, which requires that the thief have access to the card.