Verified by Visa is a security program designed to protect the online shopper. It is a service that allows cardholders to add a personal password to their existing plastic card that will be used to validate their identity when making a purchase at participating online merchants, in addition to helping prevent the unauthorized use of a cardholder's card number. The validation process will require the cardholder to enter a password in a special Verified by Visa pop-up window.

Gasoline Purchases...
Visa has implemented several steps in response to increasing fuel costs. Including a new real-time clearing capability for fuel transactions. This benefits can reduce chargebacks, improve issuer authorization processing, and reduce shut-offs at the fuel pump. Real-time clearing takes a new approach by putting the authorization decisions in the hands of financial institutions and merchants based on specific customer needs.

MasterCard SecureCode
Need extra protection against unauthorized credit card use over the Internet? You bet! MasterCard SecureCode is and easy and secure way to purchase items online. With SecureCode, you'll be asked for your personal password to verify that you authorize the online purchase. To enroll, click the MasterCard SecureCode logo above. Once you're registered, no one else can use your card without your personal password. Now, you can safely and simply shop like normal.

Gasoline Purchases...
MasterCard confirmed that there is a limit placed on gas purchases made at the pump. MasterCard's limits are set by the store owner's merchant's bank. This is due to the amount of fraudulent activity being completed at the pump. Cardholders can go inside to see if they can be approved for a larger purchase if needed. If more gas is again needed, the cardholder needs to make his purchase inside the store. Cardholder's information can then be verified, and a larger dollar amount may be purchased (at the merchant's discretion).