Inside the Black Hole

All valid MasterCard credit and debit cards display a set of unique features that every merchant should be familiar with. Every time you accept a MasterCard card for payment, while waiting for the authorization response, you should scan these features and make sure that they have not been altered or tampered with.

I will review these card identification features below and will explain how to verify their validity.

MasterCard Card Identification Features

Here are the MasterCard identification features you should be examining:

1. All cards must include a full-color MasterCard brand mark.
2. MasterCard account numbers must always start with the number “5.”
3. The first four digits of the card number must be the same as those printed directly below (pre-printed BIN).
4. The 16-digit card number must be clear and uniform in size and spacing and must appear on one line.
5. The expiration date should be in the future and in the format “mm/yy.”
6. There may be a chip on some cards, located above the account number.
7. The MasterCard Hologram or HoloMag tape can be located on the front or back of the card. If located on the front, it will be above the brand mark. If located on the back, it will be next to or below the signature panel.
8. On some cards, the design and brand mark may be oriented vertically.
9. The signature panel is located on the back of the cards, with the word “MasterCard” printed in multi-colors at a 45° angle.
10. The last four digits of the account number must be printed in reverse italic letters on the signature panel.
11. The Card Verification Code 2 (CVC 2) must be printed in reverse italics to the right of the last four digits of the account number within the signature panel.
12. The magnetic stripe must be present, located above the signature panel and appear smooth and straight with no signs of tampering. On some cards the HoloMag tape may be used in place of the magnetic stripe.

There are different MasterCard designs in use today and some of the above identification features will not be present on some of the cards you accept. However, all security features that are present must comply with the above specifications.

What to Do if You Suspect Fraud

If your examination of the card’s identification features leads you to believe that the card has been altered in some way or is counterfeit, you will need to make a Code 10 call to your processor’s authorization center, which alerts the issuer to suspicious activity.

Once you are connected, just say “I need to make a code 10 authorizations request” and answer the operator’s questions with a simple “yes” or “no”. Remain calm and speak in your normal voice, so that to avoid alarming your customer.

Once the operator has collected the information he or she needs, they will instruct you how to proceed with the transaction. If it is necessary to call the police, the operator will do so. You may be instructed to retain the card, which you should only do if it is safe.

The Takeaway

The ability to physically inspect the card presented for payment and to evaluate the behavior of the customer is what sets face-to-face transactions apart from non-face-to-face ones. It is also what makes them less expensive to process. There is no excuse not to benefit from your advantage.

Examining the identification features of a MasterCard card should only take a well-trained person a couple of seconds, which is about how long it takes to receive the authorization response. There is no better way to use this time and you should make it a routine part of the card acceptance process.

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