Always Check the Card

While processing a transaction, take the time to look over the Visa card elements and security features:

Visa Card Security Features

Visa cards have built-in security features designed to help merchants differentiate between authentic and counterfeit Visa cards.

In September 2005, Visa announced a change from its blue, gold, and white Visa flag design, to a new brand mark. As part of this change, the new Visa brand mark will start appearing on Visa cards around the world. During the transition period, merchants may see one of three valid card designs in the market:

> Existing Visa cards with the Visa flag
> Updated Visa cards with new Visa brand mark
> Limited-release Visa cards with holographic magnetic stripe

The following lists the security features associated with each card, please read through this information to familiarize yourself with the security features associated with each card design.

1. Existing Visa cards with the Visa flag

These cards will be in circulation until approximately 2011.

The Signature Panel

Make sure that the repetitive Visa name, printed in blue at a 45-degree angle, is clearly visible on the signature panel.

The card account number, plus a 3 digit Card Verification Value 2 (CVV2) is indent-printed on the signature panel. Some cards will have only the last 4 digits of the account number plus the 3 digit CVV2, on the signature panel.

Check for signs of tampering such as scratching, white tape or white correction fluid applied over the panel, or writing over another name with a felt-tip pen. The repeated word "void" appears if the panel has been erased or compromised.

The Dove Hologram

The three-dimensional dove hologram should reflect light and seem to change as you rotate the card. Most counterfeit cards contain a one - dimensional printed image on a foil sticker.

Visa Brand Mark

The Visa Brand Mark must appear in either the bottom or upper right corner. There is a micro border text.

Visa cards have a stylized "V" security character embossed to the right of the expiration date.

Bank Identification Number

The first four numbers of the account number must appear below the account number. These four numbers are the bank identification number (BIN). If the two numbers do not match, the card has been altered or is counterfeit.

The Account Number

The account number must appear clear, clean and uniform. All Visa account numbers begin with 4. If a card has been re-embossed - the original embossed numbers have been flattened and new numbers embossed-the numbers may appear fuzzy, like "ghost images." Keep an eye out for these "ghost images." All or part of the account number on the front of the card must match the printed account number on the sales receipt. Some unembossed Visa cards may have only partial account numbers printed on the card.

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2. Updated Visa cards with new Visa brand mark:

Visa member financial institutions will begin to circulate these cards in 2006. These cards include the new Visa brand mark on the front of the card and also include additional security features on the back of the card:

The Dove Hologram

The three-dimensional dove hologram should reflect light and seem to change as you rotate the card. Most counterfeit cards contain a one - dimensional printed image on a foil sticker.

Visa Brand Mark

The Visa Brand Mark must appear in either the bottom or upper right corner.

Bank Identification Number

The first four numbers of the account number must appear below the account number. These four numbers are the bank identification number (BIN). if the two numbers do not match, the card has been altered or is counterfeit.

The Account Number

The account number must appear clear, clean and uniform. All Visa account numbers begin with 4. If a card has been re-embossed - the original embossed numbers have been flattened and new numbers embossed-the numbers may appear fuzzy, like "ghost images." Keep an eye out for these "ghost images." All or part of the account number on the front of the card must match the printed account number on the sales receipt. Some unembossed Visa cards may have only partial account numbers printed on the card.

CVV2

The three-digit code (CVV2) must appear in the white box to the right of the signature panel or on the signature panel with a full or partial account.

The Signature Panel

The signature panel must appear on the back of the card. It may look like this or be custom designed. The word "VISA" is repeated and visible on the panel when placed under an ultraviolet light.

Check for signs of tampering such as scratching, white tape or white correction fluid applied over the panel, or writing over another name with a felt-tip pen. The repeated word "void" appears if the panel has been erased or compromised. The manufacturer's ID is also printed underneath the signature panel.

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3. Limited-release Visa cards with holographic magnetic stripe

In 2006, Visa Members around the world issued a limited number of Visa cards with a holographic magnetic strip. Although only a small number of these cards were issued in Canada, it is still important to recognize the security features on these cards:

CVV2

The three-digit code (CVV2) must appear in the white box to the right of the signature panel or on the signature panel with a full or partial account.

The Account Number

The 16-digit account number must appear clear, clean and uniform in size and spacing.

• In most instances, the account number will be embossed onto the card
• However, the account number may also be printed using indent-printing, laserengraving, thermal printing/hotstamping or ultraGraphix printing
• Some Visa products may display a partial account number, where only the first four and last four digits of the account number are used in place of the full 16-digit account.
• All or part of the account number on the front of the card must match the printed account number on the sales receipt.

Visa Brand Mark

The Visa Brand Mark must appear in either the bottom right, top left or top right corner. Most cards will be horizontal in orientation. Visa cards with a chip may have a vertical orientation.

A "V" is visible over the Visa Brand Mark when placed under an ultraviolet light.

Bank Identification Number

All Visa account numbers start with a 4. The 4 digit number printed below the embossed account number must match the first 4 digits of the account number. These four numbers are the bank identification number (BIN). If the two numbers do not match, the card has been altered or is counterfeit. The four digit number may be pre-printed on the card or indent printed.

The Signature Panel

The signature panel must appear on the back of the card. It may look like this or be custom designed. The word "VISA" is repeated and visible on the panel when placed under an ultraviolet light.

Check for signs of tampering such as scratching, white tape or white correction fluid applied over the panel, or writing over another name with a felt-tip pen. The repeated word "void" appears if the panel has been erased or compromised. The manufacturer's ID is also printed underneath the signature panel.

Holographic Magnetic Stripe

A holographic magnetic stripe featuring doves in flight must appear on the back of the card. The doves appear in multiple color animation when the card is moved from side to side or up and down.

1. Microtext depicting a repeating "Visa" can be seen on the center line of the holographic magnetic stripe.
2. When hologram is tipped left and right, the smallest dove appears to travel on top of vertical lines.
3. The black dot behind the middle dove appears to move when the card is moved from side to side.
4. The word "Visa" appears in the sun when the card is moved up and down. A ring appears around the sun when the card is moved from side to side.

In all cases, if you suspect a card has been altered, or is counterfeit, call your voice authorization center and request a Code 10 authorization.

Always complete an electronic authorization before you make a Code 10 call. If the transaction is declined, you do not need to request a Code 10 authorization.

Honour All Visa Cards

Honour all valid Visa cards. This includes Classic^®, Gold, Visa Platinum^®, Business, Corporate, and Purchasing cards. These Visa cards may look different, but they all contain the same basic card elements and security features.

Card Authorization Process

• Swipe the card through your terminal in the direction indicated. Do not swipe the card back and forth.
• Enter the dollar amount of the transaction and request authorization.
• Check the authorization response and take appropriate action.

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Compare the card to the sales receipt.

Do the name and last four numbers on the card match those on the sales receipt?

Do the signatures match? The first initial and spelling of the surname must be the same.

* As always, it is up to each merchant and merchant bank to check with its legal counsel to make sure this provision complies with all federal, provincial, and local laws.

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