Why your Mastercard SecureCode might not be working

The global ecommerce space is booming with billions of transactions taking place on an annual basis.

That being said, there’s a need for increased layers of security to prevent your card details from getting into the wrong hands.

This is one of the reasons why Mastercard introduced its SecureCode to the online shopping space.

What is Mastercard SecureCode?

For customers, Mastercard SecureCode is an added layer of security when you make purchases online. 

Meanwhile, for online merchants, it’s a global program that offers added security as issuing banks authenticate their cardholders when shopping.

Mastercard’s SecureCode applies to all customers who sign up for the program and to merchants who choose to add it to their checkout pages.

How does it work?

As a customer, you first need to register your card with your issuing financial institution. 

Meanwhile, a merchant will need to register their online shop with Mastercard’s SecureCode.

Once done, both the customer and the merchant will be able to proceed and process online purchases, respectively. 

When a customer goes to shop online and is at the checkout page, there will be an inline window which appears with a personalised greeting that only the customer knows. 

(This was done to avoid the much-disliked pop-ups on checkout pages.)

Other ways to authenticate the customer may include the sending of a One Time PIN (OTP) to the customer’s cellphone, or entering other customer-identifying information such as a billing address.

What are the benefits?

The benefits are added layers of security due to the increased authentication process – both for the merchant and for the customer.

This program is accepted throughout the world and it’s fast, secure and convenient. 

It offers added protection that keeps transactions secure. 

What’s more, the risk of chargebacks shifts to the issuer instead of to the merchant, enabling the merchant to offer a safer shopping experience with reduced risks of so-called “friendly fraud”.

Possible reasons for a failed transaction

There are several reasons why you won’t be able to proceed with an online transaction that’s secured by Mastercard. We take a look at some of the reasons your SecureCode might not be working:

No SMS received

If you receive an SMS with an OTP but enter this incorrectly several times, this might result in a blocked card.

However, if you do not receive an SMS at all, you should contact your issuing bank immediately.

You can find their number on the back of your card.

Incorrect billing address or other details

In the inline window that appears at the merchant’s checkout page, you will be required to fill in certain identifiable details about yourself.

These may include your billing address.

If this is not entered correctly, your purchase might not be processed and you should consider having the correct details at hand when doing so.
Alternatively, contact your issuing bank to assist you in terms of proceeding with the transaction.

Once again, you’ll be able to find their number on the back of your card.

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Conclusion

Mastercard SecureCode is an important program across the globe that looks to make online purchases more secure.

With an increasing number of customers and merchants opting for it, it’s a much safer way of proceeding with transactions online.

If you have trouble in the inline window of the merchant’s checkout page, you don’t receive an OTP through an SMS, or you face some other difficulties in making your purchase, contact your issuing bank immediately so that the issue can be rectified as soon as possible.