Verified by Visa / Mastercode Secure

rb10

When you pay for something online and the Verified by Visa / Mastercode Secure box comes up asking for your password, the text by it says the following:

If you would like to proceed with this card payment without added security you can also choose to do so.

Now surely the whole idea of VBV / MS is that if someone got hold of my card, they couldn't buy things online with it. But if the purchaser can just choose not to use this extra security, then obviously a thief would just click 'Cancel'. Is there something that I am missing here...?

oldagetraveller

This has puzzled me too. If it's possible to complete the purchase without entering security details then what's the point?
It's not as though anything extra has to be carried around, eg. card reader, other than what's in your head already i.e. memorable name etc.
I've asked my bank this question by e-mail so will await their reply.

Helix

It should only let you choose that option a certain number of times before they force you to use it.

oldagetraveller

"It should only let you choose that option a certain number of times before they force you to use it."

Maybe so but the point being the option to not use the security should not be there. It is, after all supposed to help prevent unauthorised card use online which it will plainly not do if a fraudster can just ignore. It only needs one fraudulent transaction to cause problems.
If that is the case then the question what's the point is still valid.:D
Is that a certain number of times with one retailer or overall? Can you show a source for your information?

Lokolo

I found it the most pointless thing ever. When I wanted to transfer money from HSBC Account to Egg I would do it by card. Used to ask me for the password, now it doesn.t

Fedz

If the cancel option was used and it was fraud you can argue it wasn't you as the password wasn't answered

So really it's in your best interest to answer the password as an added extra in your favour ... in case