About Buyer Authentication

PayPal’s Buyer Authentication integrates Visa’s Verified by Visa and MasterCard’s SecureCode in to secure calls to the PayPal-hosted Payflow service. These services prompt buyers to provide a password to their card issuer before being allowed to execute a credit card purchase.

Buyer Authentication is the only screening tool that promises to shift fraud liability from the merchant. Buyer Authentication password is the digital equivalent to a shopper’s handwritten signature. The use of the password protects merchants from some chargebacks when a customer claims not to have authorized the purchase.

Buyer Authentication is a separately-purchased option and operates with the Buyer Authentication Failure filter. Both your processor and your merchant bank must support buyer authentication. If they both support the service, then you can enroll for PayPal’s Buyer Authentication.

With Buyer Authentication, customers who are enrolled in the MasterCard SecureCode or Visa Verified by Visa programs authenticate themselves to the issuer during their purchase. If the authentication of the customer's identity is successful, then your service submits a standard Payflow authorization or sale transaction that includes Buyer Authentication data.

The PayPal Buyer Authentication supports MasterCard SecureCode and Visa Verified by Visa transactions without the merchant having to purchase or deploy additional hardware or software.

Processors that Support Buyer Authentication

The following processors support Buyer Authentication:

MasterCard Certified Processors

Visa Certified Processors