Card security code (CSC) is usually a 3 - or 4 - digit number,
which is not part of the credit card number. The CSC is typically printed on the
back of a credit card (usually in the signature field).
On some cards, all or part of the card number appears before the CSC, for
example, 1234 567. In this example, 1234 are the last four digits of the credit
card number, and 567 is the CSC.
The
number appears only on the card itself (not on receipts or statements), so
provides some assurance that the physical card is in the possession of the
buyer.
CSC is known by difference names with the different card
associations. CSC is known to Visa as the Card Verification Code (CVV2); to
MasterCard as the Card Validation Code (CVC2); and finally to American Express
as the Card Identification Number (CID).