Amazon credit card security key compromised. What is the security key?

DaveDonno

Amazon credit card was declined. Rang customer services and told the credit card security key was compromised. I asked what is the security key and how was it compromised? No clear answer was given. Transferred to another department and they had no clear answer either. What's going on?  

cymruchris

Do you think it might be the credit card security code rather than key? The little number on the back of your card? It may be that someone has managed to match the right security code with your card number - and has attempted fraudulent transactions that the card provider have identified, and has resulted in the suspension of your card. If that's the case they'll probably send you a new card over the next few days. Can you still access online banking? Have you checked to see if there are any unusual transactions in there?

DaveDonno

No unusual transactions. They are sending a new card. Issue is why could no one explain what a security key is and how was it compromised?

victor2

DaveDonno said:

No unusual transactions. They are sending a new card. Issue is why could no one explain what a security key is and how was it compromised?

Maybe that's their policy if any sort of fraud is suspected. They don't know if they are talking to the real card holder or the fraudster. So giving as little information as possible is the safest thing to do.

Chino

victor2 said:

They don't know if they are talking to the real card holder or the fraudster.

They have to assume it's the cardholder if the caller has passed the relevant security checks.

cymruchris

DaveDonno said:

No unusual transactions. They are sending a new card. Issue is why could no one explain what a security key is and how was it compromised?

Well if the new card is on the way - whatever was compromised now won't be - and you can carry on as normal. At least whatever it was was spotted and dealt with without costing you money, or having dodgy transactions on your account with a headache of spending time persuading them they weren't yours. 

Shakin_Steve

Still be good to know, though.

tehone

DaveDonno said:

Amazon credit card was declined. Rang customer services and told the credit card security key was compromised. I asked what is the security key and how was it compromised? No clear answer was given. Transferred to another department and they had no clear answer either. What's going on?  

Who did you ring, Amazon or the Credit Card company CS?
The security key is likely to be the CVV (3 digits usually on the back). I would imagine that no-one is going to be able to give a clear answer as to what triggered an anti-fraud protection (otherwise it'd be too easy to bypass in the future) - it's be a case of "computer" said

funkycredit

It's the CVV (or CSC) - ie the 3 digits on the back by your signature. On Amex it's the 4 digits on the front. 

Different names but that's what a CC security key is. 

Chino

funkycredit said:

Different names but that's what a CC security key is. 

Nobody has ever referred to a CVV or CVC as a "security key". You are just guessing.