9.11 verification services
9.11.1 electronic verification services
verification services
See country-specific policies for more information.
9.11.1 electronic
verification services (U.S.)
Electronic verification services offer a cost effective way to help mitigate the risk of fraud at the point of sale. These services allow you to compare information provided by the customer with information about the Cardmember not available on the Card, thereby allowing you to make a more informed decision about the validity of the Charge prior to completion of the purchase.
Electronic verification can be used:
when processing Authorizations in real time and/or when combining Authorizations and submitting all at once,
to help identify high-risk Charges, and
with, or in the case of some verification tools, without an Authorization request.
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9.11.1.1 Card identification (CID) verification (U.S.)The CID Number must not be stored after Authorization even if
it has been encrypted. See section
8.3, “standards for protection of
Cardmember information” for
additional information. Merchants to utilize the CID Verification tool for In-Person Charges may also qualify for the Keyed No Imprint Program. See section 4.17, “keyed no imprint
program (U.S.)”.
Training is recommended to minimize incorrect entries of the CID Number. Training materials are available for sales and/or telephone order representatives. To obtain these materials, see our website at: www.americanexpress.com/fraudinfo
description The Card Identification (CID) Verification tool helps mitigate fraud on keyed and swiped Charges. The CID Number is associated with each individual Card. Merchants request the four-digit CID Number printed on the Card from the customer at the time of purchase and then submit the CID Number with the Authorization request. Verification of the CID Number is one method to authenticate whether an individual making a purchase has possession of the Card.
The Card Identification (CID) is a four-digit, (flat) number that is printed on every American Express Card. The CID Number is usually located above the Card Number on the face of the Card.
purpose Because the CID Number is associated with each individual Card, prompting for the CID Number authenticates the Card.
Requesting the CID Number for Card Not Present Charges helps to determine that the person placing the order actually has the Card in his or her possession.
Requesting the CID Number for Card Present Charges helps to determine that the person making the purchase is not using an altered or counterfeit Card.
requirement To utilize this tool, you must:
capture the CID Number and enable your Point of Sale System to be able to receive a CID response code. If you receive an “invalid CID Number” Decline, or a “no match” response code, then re-prompt the person making the purchase to re-enter the correct CID Number.
add systematic editing and monitoring abilities to prevent unlimited and repetitive (more than two) entries of the CID
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This document contains sensitive, confidential, and trade secret information, and must not be disclosed to third parties without the express prior written consent of American Express Travel Related Services Company, Inc.
9.11.1.1 Card identification (CID) verification (U.S.) (continued)
how it works You obtain the four-digit CID Number and send it with the Authorization request. The Issuer compares this CID Number with that on file for the Card and, based on the comparison, returns a response code to your Point of Sale System.
Check with your Processor, Terminal Provider or, if you have a direct link to American Express, your American Express
representative to determine the codes that will be returned to your Point of Sale System. Use the code received to assess the level of risk and determine whether to complete the Charge.
industry Appropriate for Card Present and Card Not Present Charges.
implementation To implement this tool, work with your Processor, Terminal Provider, or if you have a direct link to American Express, your American Express representative.
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9.11.1.2 automated address verification (U.S.)We recommend that you utilize AAV with the Authorization request. In doing so, you will receive a match response, based on the AAV data sent, in addition to the Authorization response.
description The Automated Address Verification tool compares the billing name, street address, and zip code provided by the customer with the Cardmember’s billing information on file with the Issuer.
purpose The Automated Address Verification tool helps you evaluate the validity of a Charge by comparing information provided by the customer at the point of sale with information about the Cardmember not available on the Card.
how it works You request information from the customer at the point of sale, including all or any of the following:
name
billing address
zip code
You supply this information in the Authorization request, through the Merchant’s Point of Sale System.
The Issuer compares the information provided by you with the Cardmember’s records, and returns a response code.
You should use the AAV response code from the Issuer to assess the level of risk and determine whether to complete the Charge. Check with your Processor, Terminal Provider, or if you have a direct link to American Express, your American Express
representative to determine the codes that will be returned to your Point of Sale System.
industry Appropriate for all Card Not Present Charges.
implementation To implement this tool, work with your Processor, Terminal Provider, or if you have a direct link to American Express, your American Express representative.
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This document contains sensitive, confidential, and trade secret information, and must not be disclosed to third parties without the express prior written consent of American Express Travel Related Services Company, Inc.
9.11.1.3 telephone number verification (U.S.)
description The Telephone Number Verification tool compares the telephone number information provided by the customer with that on file with the Issuer.
purpose The Telephone Number Verification tool helps you evaluate the validity of a Charge by comparing information provided by the customer at the point of sale with information about the Cardmember not available on the Card.
how it works You request telephone number information from the customer at the point of sale.
You supply this information in the Authorization request, through your Point of Sale System.
The Issuer compares the information provided by you with the Cardmember’s records, and returns a response code.
You should use the response code from the Issuer to assess the level of risk and determine whether to complete the Charge. Check with your Processor, Terminal Provider, or if you have a direct link to American Express, your American Express
representative to determine the codes that will be returned to your Point of Sale System.
industry Appropriate for all Card Not Present Charges.
implementation To implement this tool, work with your Processor, Terminal Provider, or if you have a direct link to American Express, your American Express representative.
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9.11.1.4 email address verification (U.S.)description The Email Address Verification tool compares email information provided by the customer with that on file with the Issuer.
purpose The Email Address Verification tool helps you evaluate the validity of a Charge by comparing information provided by the customer at the point of sale with information about the Cardmember not available on the Card.
how it works You request email information from the customer at the point of sale.
You supply this information in the Authorization request, through your Point of Sale System.
The Issuer compares the information provided by you with the Cardmember’s records, and returns a response code.
You should use the response code from the Issuer to assess the level of risk and determine whether to complete the Charge. Check with your Processor, Terminal Provider, or if you have a direct link to American Express, your American Express
representative to determine the codes that will be returned to your Point of Sale System.
industry Appropriate for all Card Not Present Charges.
implementation To implement this tool, work with your Processor, Terminal Provider, or if you have a direct link to American Express, your American Express representative.
October 2014 117
This document contains sensitive, confidential, and trade secret information, and must not be disclosed to third parties without the express prior written consent of American Express Travel Related Services Company, Inc.
9.11.1.5 zip code verification (U.S.)
description The Zip Code Verification tool compares the billing zip code provided by the customer with the Cardmember’s billing zip code on file with the Issuer.
purpose The Zip Code Verification tool helps you evaluate the validity of a Charge by comparing information provided by the customer at the point of sale with information about the Cardmember not available on the Card.
how it works The customer is prompted to enter his or her billing zip code at the point of sale.
You supply this information in the Authorization request, through the your Point of Sale System.
The Issuer compares the billing zip code entered with that on file for the Cardmember and, based on the comparison, returns a response code to you.
You should incorporate the response from the Issuer into their risk assessment process and determine whether to complete the Charge.
Check with your Processor, Terminal Provider, or if you have a direct link to American Express, your American Express
representative to determine the codes that will be returned to your Point of Sale System.
industry Appropriate for all Card Not Present and Card Present Charges; optimal when your customers swipe their Card through your Point of Sale System.
implementation To implement this tool, work with your Processor, Terminal Provider, or if you have a direct link to American Express, your American Express representative.