Payment Solutions

American Express SafeKey®

Prevent fraud while reducing friction for online transactions

Overview

The growth of digital commerce has placed greater emphasis on Merchants and Issuers to enhance their fraud prevention techniques while ensuring their customers can transact quickly and easily on whatever device they choose.  

American Express SafeKey is a security solution that leverages the global industry standard, EMV® 3-D Secure, to detect and reduce online fraud—providing an extra layer of security when consumers shop through web browsers or in-app. 

SafeKey enables Merchants and Issuers to exchange detailed information, which helps reduce fraud and minimize the need for a one-time passcode—improving the user experience and reducing shopping cart abandonment.  

Building consumer confidence can help expand your market reach. Enhanced fraud protection through SafeKey may encourage online customers to spend more and help grow your business. Enroll in SafeKey today! 

 

EMV® is a registered trademark in the U.S. and other countries and an unregistered trademark elsewhere. The EMV trademark is owned by EMVCo.

Benefits

Merchants

Reduce Fraud Liability 

  • Transfers liability for fraud chargebacks on SafeKey authenticated and attempted transactions to the Issuer 

  • Works alongside other tools to manage fraud 

Increase Profitability 

  • Helps customers feel more secure about online purchases potentially increasing their confidence to spend 

Reduce Shopping Cart Abandonment 

  • Allows Issuers to use additional data elements already part of the checkout process to authenticate a Cardmember without a ‘challenge’* reducing friction, leading to a higher conversion of sales 

*A ‘challenge’ is when an Issuer can request the Cardmember to prove his/her identity, e.g. by use of a One-Time Passcode (OTP).

Issuers

Reduce Fraud 

  • Lowers fraud with an extra layer of security 

  • Leverages richer data to make smarter, more sophisticated risk decisions 

Increase Sales 

  • Helps increase Cardmember confidence by reducing friction leading to reduced  
    cart abandonment 

Authenticate Securely 

  • Richer data allows targeting of higher risk transactions where stronger customer authentication would be beneficial  

  • Supports a variety of Cardmember authentication methods, including one-time passcodes, biometrics, and out-of-band

Cardmembers

  • Helps protect against the fraudulent use of Cardmember details  
  • Cardmembers automatically enrolled by their Issuers

  • Includes protection for transactions made on web browsers and in app

Did you know?

Decline Rates

Merchants who enabled SafeKey experienced an average decrease of 3% in decline rates for transactions authenticated through SafeKey.1

Authorization Rates

Merchants who enabled SafeKey experienced an average increase of 3% in authorization rates for transactions authenticated through SafeKey. 1

 

1Based on the comparative analysis of authorized transactions for 12 months pre vs. 12 months post enablement of SafeKey for 34 Global Merchants who enabled SafeKey between 2015-2021.

Fraud Rates

Merchants experienced an average decrease of 17% in fraud rate by authenticating transactions through SafeKey. 2

 

2Based on the comparative analysis of fraud rates for authorized transactions 12 months pre vs. 12 months post enablement of SafeKey for 42 Global Merchants between 2015-2021.

 

 

SafeKey Version Comparison

Features SafeKey 2.0
SafeKey 2.1
SafeKey 2.2
SafeKey 2.3
App-based (in-app) enablement
Non-payment authentication
Token-based transactions
Out-of-band authentication
3DS Requestor-Initiated (3RI) non-payment authentications
3DS Requestor-Initiated (3RI) payment authentications
Decoupled authentication
PSD2 data elements and indicators
Additional support for gaming consoles and headless devices
Support for Secure Payment Confirmation
Automated out-of-brand transitions and UI enhancements
Enhanced data for additional payment scenarios

SafeKey specifications can be accessed through AMEX Enabled and Knowledge Base. Note: SafeKey 2.1 decommission date end Sept 2024.

How It Works

Enrollment & Implementation

amex ACS & 3DS Server Provider
amex SDK
amex Issuer
amex Acquirer
amex Merchant

ACS & 3DS Server Provider

  1. Click here to register your company with the AMEX Enabled Program

    (Please note SafeKey merchants DO NOT need to register and should contact their Payment Service Provider to set up SafeKey)

  2. Confirmation email contains link to product enrollment form

  3. Complete product enrollment form

  4. Enroll one or more users to access the AMEX Enabled Dashboard

  5. Log in to the AMEX Enabled Dashboard to access certification documentation

  6. Access SafeKey Test Lab from AMEX Enabled to complete testing and certification of your solution

SDK

A Merchant’s app processes SafeKey transactions using a Software Development Kit (SDK). SDK Providers are required to enroll with American Express to provide proof of their EMVCo certification. 

  1. Click here to register your company with the AMEX Enabled Program

  2. Confirmation email contains link to enrollment form

  3. Complete enrollment form, provide your EMVCo SDK Reference Number(s)

  4. Enroll users to access the AMEX Enabled Dashboard 

  5. Log in to the AMEX Enabled Dashboard and read the "SDK SafeKey Instructions" document for next steps

Issuer

Please contact your American Express representative if you would like to certify for SafeKey.

Acquirer

Please contact your American Express representative if you would like to certify for SafeKey.

Merchant

Please contact your 3DS Server / PSP if you wish to enable SafeKey or contact your Amex representative for more information.

amex ACS & 3DS Server Provider

ACS & 3DS Server Provider

  1. Click here to register your company with the AMEX Enabled Program

    (Please note SafeKey merchants DO NOT need to register and should contact their Payment Service Provider to set up SafeKey)

  2. Confirmation email contains link to product enrollment form

  3. Complete product enrollment form

  4. Enroll one or more users to access the AMEX Enabled Dashboard

  5. Log in to the AMEX Enabled Dashboard to access certification documentation

  6. Access SafeKey Test Lab from AMEX Enabled to complete testing and certification of your solution

amex SDK

SDK

A Merchant’s app processes SafeKey transactions using a Software Development Kit (SDK). SDK Providers are required to enroll with American Express to provide proof of their EMVCo certification. 

  1. Click here to register your company with the AMEX Enabled Program

  2. Confirmation email contains link to enrollment form

  3. Complete enrollment form, provide your EMVCo SDK Reference Number(s)

  4. Enroll users to access the AMEX Enabled Dashboard 

  5. Log in to the AMEX Enabled Dashboard and read the "SDK SafeKey Instructions" document for next steps

amex Issuer

Issuer

Please contact your American Express representative if you would like to certify for SafeKey.

amex Acquirer

Acquirer

Please contact your American Express representative if you would like to certify for SafeKey.

amex Merchant

Merchant

Please contact your 3DS Server / PSP if you wish to enable SafeKey or contact your Amex representative for more information.

amex
American Express

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