[joshaidan]

The story behind the CVV is something like this:

CVV is also known as card not present number. Historically it was printed on the back of the card, or on the front using unraised type. This way, if an impression of a credit card was taken (using one of those old fashion swipe back and forth machines), the CVV number would not be included in the impression. This provided some protection for card owners, as it prevented a merchant from using the credit card number obtained from an impression to say place an order using the CC over the phone. This is why you're required (or it's recommended) that you ask for the CVV number for any transaction where the card is not present.

[dylz]

I'm confused, how does this work? There is no raised type on any of my cards whatsoever, how do you take an impression of a flat card?

[vidarh]

In the old days, before most places had machines to swipe the mag stripe, they used to take card imprints. I'm 38, and have had cards for 20 years, and I've never had anyone imprint my cards.

So these days it's not very necessary to have raised type on the cards for most people.