Advice First: Do Not Buy CVV Online
Card verification values (CVV) are three- or four-digit codes printed on credit cards. They exist to verify that the person making a transaction has physical access to the card. Any online store that sells CVV numbers is involved in carding or credit card fraud. Purchasing CVV codes from such a store is illegal under the U.S. Identity Theft and Assumption Deterrence Act. You should never attempt to buy card data without explicit authorization from the cardholder and issuer.
Safe CVV Store Purchase: Why It’s a Scam and a Crime
Parameters and Pitfalls
If you still consider buying a CVV online, understand these parameters:
- Every CVV marketplace operates outside the law. There is no regulated, legitimate CVV store.
- Law enforcement agencies such as the FBI and U.S. Secret Service monitor underground carding forums.
- Making a purchase with a stolen CVV is felony wire fraud. It can lead to up to 20 years in prison and heavy fines.
- Buyers often get scammed: sellers take payment and disappear, or the card data is invalid.
- Your own bank may close your accounts and block you from future credit if they detect fraudulent activity.
Instead of buying CVV codes, protect your own card details. Use tokenized payment methods, enable transaction alerts, and check credit reports. If you find your card compromised, contact your bank immediately.