MasterCard SecureCode is a security feature, provided
to merchants operating in the virtual world of the eCommerce and to
consumers that enables cardholders to authenticate themselves to their
MasterCard credit card issuer through the use of a personal code that
they have pre-selected when they registered their cards. MasterCard
SecureCode addresses current consumer concerns about the security of
online credit and debit card payment processing and the high levels of
chargebacks in online payment transactions.
MasterCard SecureCode helps eCommerce-based businesses in a number of ways:
- Guarantees the authenticity of online credit and debit card payments.
- Reduces the level of fraudulent transactions.
- Reduces chargeback levels.
- Increases online business.
- Increases consumer confidence in online payment transactions.
The MasterCard SecureCode authentication works in a way
that is similar to the ATM verification process. After entering their
payment card details at the checkout of a participating merchant
eCommerce website, a separate browser opens and cardholders are asked
to enter their SecureCode. The card issuer then verifies the provided
code and confirms or declines the transaction. Cardholders are
confident that no one else can use their MasterCard without having the
code. Participating merchants get evidence of an authorized purchase.
To get started, merchants need to follow these steps:
- Contact your eCommerce merchant account provider and ensure that it
supports MasterCard SecureCode and that UCAF processing is supported.
- Add the SecureCode plug-in application to your website.
Alternatively, you can contract with a hosted service to perform the
authentication process for you. For a list of SecureCode compliant
vendors, you can visit www.securecodevendors.com.
- Conduct a simple test with MasterCard to ensure that everything works properly.
- Add the MasterCard SecureCode program identifier to your website to
let customers know that you are SecureCode compliant. For the Program
Identifier Usage Guidelines and artwork, visit
www.securecodemerchant.com.
- Advertise for free in the SecureCode participating merchant directory on the MasterCard consumer website.
Once SecureCode is deployed, it is up to the card issuer
to authenticate its cardholders. The authentication data gives
eCommerce merchants protection against the most common types of
chargebacks - "cardholder not authorized" and "cardholder not
recognized".
