Selling CVV data is a federal crime in the United States. A CVV, or card verification value, is the three- or four-digit security code printed on a payment card, and trafficking those codes is prosecuted as access device fraud under 18 U.S.C. § 1029. There is no legitimate marketplace where consumers buy or sell CVV numbers, because the code exists solely to prove the physical card is present.

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What is a CVV and what is it for?

The CVV is a short numeric code tied to a specific card and account. Card issuers use it as a second factor during card-not-present transactions, such as online or phone orders.

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Because the code is printed on the card and never stored by merchants after authorization, it is one of the few checks that a fraudster cannot pull from a routine database breach. That is exactly why stolen CVVs command attention in criminal forums and why obtaining them is treated as a serious offense.

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Is it illegal to buy or sell CVV numbers?

Yes. Federal law prohibits producing, selling, transferring, or possessing counterfeit or unauthorized access devices with intent to defraud. A payment card number plus its CVV qualifies as an access device.

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Convictions can bring felony records, substantial fines, restitution to banks and victims, and prison sentences that in serious cases reach a decade or more. Conspiracy and wire fraud charges are frequently added on top.

How does CVV theft harm cardholders?

Victims often learn about the fraud when a charge appears or a card is declined. Resolving it means calling the issuer, disputing transactions, replacing the card, and updating every automatic payment tied to it.

Repeated exposure can damage credit reports and cost hours of paperwork. Small businesses hit by chargebacks also absorb fees and lose revenue, and those costs are ultimately passed to all customers.

How can you protect your own CVV?

• Never share the code in an email, text, chat, or phone call you did not initiate.
• Shop only on encrypted sites you trust, and avoid saving card details in browsers on shared devices.
• Use virtual or single-use card numbers for unfamiliar merchants.
• Review statements monthly and enable transaction alerts.
• Cover the code when others can see your card, and store cards in a secure place.

What should you do if your card data is compromised?

Contact your card issuer immediately so the card can be frozen and reissued. Then report the incident at IdentityTheft.gov and file a complaint with the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center.

Keep records of every call, confirmation number, and disputed charge. If a fraudulent account was opened in your name, a formal identity theft report strengthens your case with banks and credit bureaus.