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3D Secure (3DS) — How It Works

3D Secure (3DS) is an additional security layer for online card payments that helps verify your identity and protect against fraud.

What Is 3DS?

3D Secure (also known as Visa Secure for Visa cards) is an authentication protocol that adds an extra verification step when you make online purchases.

When triggered, you'll either confirm the payment directly in Kolo Telegram mini app or on web or receive a one-time code by SMS or email.

How It Works

When you make an online card payment:

  1. You enter your card details on a merchant's website

  2. The merchant's payment system requests 3DS authentication

  3. You receive a verification request via your chosen delivery method — a confirmation window in Kolo, or a one-time code

  4. You confirm or decline the transaction

  5. Once verified, the payment is processed

3DS Delivery Methods

Kolo may deliver 3DS verification requests through different channels depending on your setup.

Method

Description

In-app confirmation

Notification + a confirmation window in the Kolo mini app or on Kolo Web — approve or decline, no code needed

SMS

Receive a one-time code via text message to your phone

Email

Receive a one-time code via email

Telegram

For Telegram bot users — receive verification in your Telegram chat

Wallet screen

A Confirm payment banner on your wallet screen — tap it to open or reopen the confirmation window

⚠️ Important: Available delivery methods may depend on your account setup and enabled channels.

Card Type Limitations

The way you confirm 3DS payments can depend on your card's currency and issue date:

  • EUR cards — confirmation is currently available via SMS and in-app;

  • USD cards issued after May 18, 2026 — automatically support the newer in-app 3DS confirmation flow.

  • USD cards issued before May 18, 2026 — you'll be asked to choose between SMS or email, and the one-time code will be sent to you directly.

Confirming a Payment in the Kolo mini App or on Web (EUR card)

If in-app confirmation is available for your card, you approve the payment directly in Kolo, with no one-time code.

  1. You pay on the merchant's website and the merchant requests 3DS

  2. Kolo sends you a notification with the merchant, the amount and the card

  3. Tap the notification — Kolo opens and the confirmation window appears over your wallet

  4. Check the details: the merchant, the amount and the card that will be charged

  5. Tap "Confirm" to approve the payment, or "Decline" to reject it (the confirmation window shows a countdown)

  6. You will see "Payment confirmed" — return to the merchant's page to finish your purchase

If you close the confirmation window

Closing the window does not cancel the payment. A "Confirm payment" banner stays on your wallet screen — tap it to reopen the window while the request is still valid.

If you do not recognise the payment

Tap "Decline" and the payment will not be completed. Contact our support team if you did not make this payment.

Note: in-app confirmation is only available for cards that support it — see Card Type Limitations above. For all other cards you will still receive a one-time code by SMS or email.

Types of Merchant 3DS Behavior

Different merchants may use 3DS in different ways:

Type

Description

Example

Always ask

3DS verification is required for every transaction

High-security merchants, government services

Ask first time

3DS is required only on your first purchase; subsequent transactions are remembered

Subscription services, streaming platforms

Ask every time

3DS is triggered for each transaction, regardless of history

Travel bookings, high-value purchases

Risk-based

3DS is triggered only for suspicious or high-risk transactions

Most e-commerce stores

Common 3DS Scenarios

✅ Successful Verification

  • You approve the request in the Kolo Telegram mini-app or enter the code received by SMS, email, or another supported method

  • Once the verification is completed successfully, the payment continues

  • With in-app confirmation you will see "Payment confirmed" — go back to the merchant's page to finish the purchase

⚠️ Verification Timeout

  • If you don't respond in time, the transaction may fail. The in-app confirmation window stays valid for 3 minutes; SMS and email codes expire sooner

    • This usually happens if:

      1. the request is not opened in time

      2. the code expires

      3. the approval step is missed

  • Try the payment again and complete the verification promptly

❌ 3DS Request Not Received

  • If you do not receive the verification request:

    1. check whether notifications are enabled for the Kolo app

    2. make sure your phone number and email address are correct in your profile

    3. check your spam or junk folder if you are using email

    4. try another available delivery method

    5. if you closed the confirmation window, open Kolo and tap the "Confirm payment" banner on your wallet screen

❌ SMS Not Received

In some regions, SMS delivery may be less reliable.

This is more common in parts of:

  • Latin America, including Ecuador, Colombia, and Peru

  • the Middle East

If you do not receive your SMS code, we recommend switching to email OTP.

💡 Pro tip: In many regions, email OTP is more reliable than SMS for 3DS verification.

🔁 Change Your OTP Delivery Method

If SMS delivery is delayed or unavailable, switching to email may help you complete the payment more reliably.

⚠️ Important: Make sure your contact details are up to date before changing the delivery method.

Tips for Smoother 3DS Verification

  1. Keep the Kolo Telegram mini app installed and notifications enabled

  2. Respond quickly, as 3DS requests usually expire within a short time

  3. Make sure your phone number and email are up to date

  4. Use email OTP if SMS delivery is unreliable in your region

  5. Confirm in the Kolo Telegram mini app when it is available — it is the fastest option and does not depend on SMS delivery

FAQ

Why do some merchants always ask for 3DS, while others do not?

Merchants configure 3DS differently. Some always require it, while others use it only for first-time or higher-risk purchases.

Does in-app confirmation work on Kolo Web?

Yes. The same confirmation window appears in Kolo Web, with the same details and the same countdown.

Need Help?

If you are not receiving 3DS requests or are not sure which delivery method to use, our support team will be happy to help.

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