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What is 3D Secure or 3DS and does Kovena provide this?

Simply put, 3DS is the banking industry’s version of two-factor authentication and yes Kovena provides this.

What is 3DS: a security protocol for card transactions that verifies the cardholder's identity to reduce fraudulent activities. It ensures that the guest is the actual owner of the card, rather than a fraudster. This extra layer of security can be strong proof that the transaction was genuine.

 

How 3DS works: When a customer makes an online purchase using their credit or debit card, their bank sends a unique One-Time Password (OTP) to their registered mobile number or email. The customer must enter this OTP to complete the transaction. This process significantly reduces fraudulent transactions and the chargebacks or disputes associated with them. When a customer makes a payment that exceeds a certain amount, Kovena provides the technology, and if the customer's bank has 2FA authorised, it will send a push notification or other second layer of security to approve the transaction.

Enabling 3DS for merchant accounts:
During onboarding, each business undergoes a comprehensive risk assessment to determine how 3DS authentication is implemented. Merchants classified as high risk (such as new businesses or those operating in regions with increased fraud exposure) will have 3DS enabled for all transactions. For businesses assigned a low or medium risk profile, 3DS is applied based on specific criteria, such as same-day services or international card usage. These requirements can vary and are tailored to the needs of each business. Our team is available to discuss these protocols in detail during onboarding or at any stage thereafter. Please contact us at support@kovena.com to review the most appropriate security measures for your operations.
 
Can having 3DS mitigate my risk of losing funds in chargebacks?
Yes and no. 3D-Secure can only be used to defend a chargeback raised for the reason of unauthorized/fraudulent transaction.
Even though a merchant may have 3DS forced on all transactions, this does not apply to bookings made through the OTA, where the merchant would have to enter card details on their end.