JCB Co. Ltd., the Japan-based credit card network, is joining its U.S. counterparts Visa and MasterCard in providing its own password-based payment security system, called J/Secure, for online transactions.
Like Visa’s Verified by Visa and MasterCard’s SecureCode programs, JCB’s J/Secure program requires cardholders to key in a password registered with their card issuer at the point of online purchase. The system is designed to prevent thieves from being able to use a stolen card or account number.
“By increasing security and reliability, J/Secure will build customer confidence in credit card payments on the Internet, and will contribute to boosting and expanding the e-commerce market,” said Masahiro Omoto, JCB executive vice president and general manager, who heads its Advanced Technologies Department.
JCB will shift the liability for fraudulent transactions from merchants to issuers whenever cardholders are authenticated through the J/Secure system, said Julie Krueger, vice president of smart cards for JCB. She added that JCB expects a broad liability shift to occur by early 2005 after issuing partners have had time to enroll their cardholders.
JCB, noting that several vendors are prepared to provide J/Secure software, said it will work to get the brand further established in the credit card market. “We are focusing our energy on expanding the market for e-commerce as a whole by promoting J/Secure, and encouraging our partners to adopt its use,” Omoto said.
JCB reports 48.4 million JCB cardholders. JCB cards are accepted at nearly 11 million merchants in 189 countries.
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