Fraud Dictionary
/
Address Verification Service

Address Verification Service

What Is AVS – the Address Verification Service?

AVS, or the Address Verification Service, is a tool used by businesses to verify the accuracy of a customer's address information. This service is often used during online transactions to reduce the risk of fraud and ensure that the customer's order is delivered to the correct address.

When a customer makes a purchase online, the business will typically ask for their billing and shipping address. The AVS system will then check this information against a database of known addresses to confirm its accuracy. This database is typically provided by the customer's credit card issuer or a third-party provider.

If the AVS system finds a match for the customer's address, the transaction can proceed as usual. However, if the system is unable to verify the address, the business may request additional information from the customer or take other steps to verify the accuracy of the address before proceeding with the transaction.

Using AVS can help businesses reduce the risk of fraud and protect themselves from losses associated with incorrect or incomplete address information. It can also help ensure that the customer's order is delivered to the correct address, which can help improve the customer's experience and increase the likelihood of repeat business.

In addition to providing a valuable fraud prevention tool, AVS can also help businesses comply with industry regulations and standards. Many industries, such as the financial and retail sectors, have specific requirements for address verification and may require businesses to use AVS or a similar service.

How Do Address Verification Systems Work?

AVS is an automated process that verifies the address provided by a customer. The system works in a few simple steps:

  1. The customer provides their billing address when they’re making a purchase.
  2. The merchant sends the address information to the card issuer.
  3. The card issuer checks the address with the address on file.
  4. The card issuer returns a code indicating whether the address matches or not.

The code that is returned by the card issuer indicates whether the address matches or not. If it matches, the transaction is approved. If it doesn’t, the transaction is declined.


What Is an AVS Decline?

An AVS decline occurs when the address provided by the customer does not match the address on file with the card issuer. This can happen for a variety of reasons, including typos, outdated information, or an incorrect address.

When an AVS decline occurs, the transaction is declined and the customer is not charged. This is an important safety measure for merchants and customers alike. It helps protect both parties from fraud and helps ensure that the customer is who they say they are.


Why Is the Address Verification Service System Important?

The Address Verification Service system is an important tool for ecommerce businesses. It helps protect merchants from fraud and helps ensure that customers are who they say they are.

For merchants, AVS helps reduce chargebacks and helps ensure that only legitimate customers are making purchases. This can help protect merchants from fraudulent activity and can help reduce the amount of time they spend dealing with chargebacks.

For customers, AVS helps ensure that their information is kept secure. It helps protect customers from identity theft and ensures that their credit card information is safe.


What Are Some Examples of Address Verification Systems

There are a variety of address verification systems available for merchants. Some of the most popular ones are:

  1. Visa Address Verification Service
  2. Mastercard Address Verification Service
  3. American Express Address Verification Service
  4. PayPal Address Verification Service
  5. Stripe Address Verification Service

These systems are designed to help merchants verify the address provided by a customer. They are simple to use and can help protect merchants from fraud and identity theft.


Need help fighting ecommerce fraud? Use Spotrisk

AVS is an important tool for ecommerce businesses, but it’s not the only tool you can use to protect yourself from fraud. Spotrisk is a fraud prevention platform designed to help merchants detect and prevent fraud. It uses a variety of tools, including AVS, to help merchants identify and stop fraudsters before they can do any damage.

Spotrisk can help merchants reduce chargebacks, protect their customers, and save time. It’s a powerful tool that can help any ecommerce business stay safe and secure.


Conclusion

The Address Verification Service (AVS) is an important tool for ecommerce businesses. It helps protect merchants from fraud and helps ensure that customers are who they say they are. It’s simple to use and can help reduce chargebacks and save merchants time.

In addition to AVS, merchants can also use other fraud prevention tools, such as Spotrisk, to help protect themselves from fraudsters. Spotrisk is a powerful fraud prevention platform that can help any ecommerce business stay safe and secure.

By using the Address Verification Service and other fraud prevention tools, merchants can protect themselves and their customers from fraudsters. It’s an essential part of running a successful ecommerce business.

Ready to protect your business?

Connect your ecommerce store free, in just a few clicks.
© Copyright Spotrisk 2023