MasterCard SecureCode is a simple and secure way to pay at thousands of online stores. A private code known only to you and your bank, your SecureCode enhances your existing MasterCard account by protecting you against unauthorized use of your card when shopping online at participating online retailers.Because the overseas site did not tell me how to do this, and didn't link anywhere, it didn't look like phishing. It looked legitimate but I wanted to be sure, so I called my CC company, CapitalOne. While waiting for a real person (press 5 a lot) I did more searching. CapitalOne actually has information about SecureCode on their website. As does MasterCard. So it's looking okay. When I reach a real person at CapitalOne, they have no idea what SecureCode is. They put me on hold and talk to their supervisor. Minutes later, they say they don't know what it is, and will transfer me to MasterCard. After my call is dropped, I do this whole thing again.
Ten minutes later I am talking with a rep from MasterCard, who says "Your secure code is that three digit number on the back of your card." I say "No, SecureCode is a program described on your website. Please google it, one word, SecureCode". She says, "Just a sec, let me talk to my supervisor." Tick tick tick. She says, "I don't know what are talking about, your secure code is on the back of your card." I say no that's not it-- it's a program to make your card theoretically more secure by using a third party verification system. "You're gonna have to talk to the merchant." Then they pretty much hung up on me.
I signed up for SecureCode anyway, which makes me very nervous; I am going to have to check my online statement daily. The name "SecureCode" has been used in phishing scams. And my online purchase never worked using my MasterCard. I ended up using PayPal, which worked immediately.
1 comment:
Is this the system they use all over Europe these days? I've had several UK stores not want my credit cards because they don't have this feature, and they told me not to take it personally because American banks just don't offer it. (See, they're much closer to Russia than we are...)
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