Card Security Code (CSC) return codes and meaning

[bsnyder31]

When a credit card payment is cleared through PayPal there is a summary of the payment on "Transaction Details" page. In this summary there is a line that reads:"Card Security Code (CSC):" and single capital letters that follow such as "N" and "M".  Does anyone know what these single capital letters represent? Is there a published list of return codes that explain the meaning of each. Any help appreciated.

[snowshoe]

This may be what you're looking for:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Address_Verification_System

[bsnyder31]

Your reply is for the address verification codes.  I found the CSC codes here: https://www.paypalobjects.com/en_US/vhelp/servicemanagement_help/csc_response.htm

Thanks for your effort and reply!

In the link above, the CSC information says: "If a Card security code match fails, PayPal displays the CSC response ”N” and the transaction fails".  I have had several sales where the CSC code returned was "N" but the sale was NOT rejected and processed as valid. Hmmm...wonder whats up with that?

I have had a few chargebacks on fraudulent / stolen cards. I have tried to adjust the fraud filters so that if the Address Verification and/or the CSC verification fail then the sale is rejected.  I have these filters set correctly but PayFlow Link does not reject the transaction when the CSC verification fails.  Not sure what is up but will contact support to figure it out. 

As a side note and not to cry over lost money...I have lost every fraudulent chargeback cases opened against me which has totaled around $7000.00 in the last four years.  I think the cards are either stolen or the buyer reports the card stolen after the sale.  The frustrating issue is that the buyer never has to return the merchandise and the credit card company is not liable for payment so the seller ends up paying for fraud...not PayPal or the Credit Card companies.

I have also found the items that had been fraudulently purchased from me, on eBay for resale.  I thought about buying them back using the same technique of purchasing, having them shipped Next Day Air and then once I recieve the tracking number, reporting the card as stolen. I might just try it next time...