0 abbreviation for card security code: a number on a credit card or debit card (= a card used for payment), usually three digits (= individual numbers) on the back of the card, that is used to prove that the person making the payment has the card in their possession:
We ask you to fill out the CSC to avoid anyone other than you from shopping with your card number.
The CSC is used as a security feature, in situations where a personal identification number (PIN) cannot be used.
The CSC (card security code) is typically the last three or four digits printed, not embossed like the card number, on the signature strip on the back of the card.
The growth in phishing has reduced the real-world effectiveness of the CSC as an anti-fraud device.
