Card-Not-Present Fraud (CNP Fraud)

Card-not-present (CNP) fraud is a type of payment card fraud that occurs when a credit or debit card is used for a transaction in which the physical card is not present. In CNP transactions, a fraudster uses the victim’s card without their authorization. The fraudster will make purchases using the victim’s card details, such as the card number, expiration date, and the card’s security code (e.g., CVV), but the card itself is not swiped, inserted, or physically presented to a merchant. CNP fraud is commonly associated with online and phone transactions, as well as mail-order and catalog purchases.