# Consumer Controls
source: https://developer.mastercard.com/consumer-controls/product/consumer-controls/index.md

### Key features {#key-features}

Personalized transaction controls and alerts provide cardholders greater control on how and when their account is being used.  

![Real-time alerts](https://static.developer.mastercard.com/content/consumer-controls/uploads/realtime_alerts.svg)

###### Real-time alerts {#real-time-alerts}

Receive personalized notifications as payments happen
![Transaction amount alerts and controls](https://static.developer.mastercard.com/content/consumer-controls/uploads/transaction_amount.svg)

###### Transaction amount alerts and controls {#transaction-amount-alerts-and-controls}

Receive alerts or an alert and decline for transactions over a chosen amount
![Card on/off](https://static.developer.mastercard.com/content/consumer-controls/uploads/card_on_off.svg)

###### Card on/off {#card-onoff}

Turn cards on/off easily

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### How it works {#how-it-works}

![Alt text](https://static.developer.mastercard.com/content/consumer-controls/product/img/consumer-controls-how-it-works-1a.svg)
Issuer registers card(s) for Consumer Controls using Spend Alerts or Spend Controls API
![Alt text](https://static.developer.mastercard.com/content/consumer-controls/product/img/consumer-controls-how-it-works-2a.svg)
Consumer uses issuer's digital site to set controls
![Alt text](https://static.developer.mastercard.com/content/consumer-controls/product/img/consumer-controls-how-it-works-3a.svg)
Cardholder completes a transaction with the registered card
![Alt text](https://static.developer.mastercard.com/content/consumer-controls/product/img/consumer-controls-how-it-works-4a.svg)
Transaction is validated against the assigned controls, triggering control set if criteria is met
![Alt text](https://static.developer.mastercard.com/content/consumer-controls/product/img/consumer-controls-how-it-works-5a.svg)
Cardholder receives an alert about the declined transaction from their issuer as provided by Mastercard

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### Use cases {#use-cases}

Increase card usage, drive cardholder engagement, and reduce fraud by empowering consumers with personalized alerts and controls.
![Purchase type](https://static.developer.mastercard.com/content/consumer-controls/uploads/purchase_type.svg)

###### Purchase type {#purchase-type}

Customized alerts that allow spending on specific types of purchases, resulting in spend lift for these transactions
![International purchases](https://static.developer.mastercard.com/content/consumer-controls/uploads/international_purchases.svg)

###### International purchases {#international-purchases}

Alerts notifying when an account is being used for purchases outside of the country in which the card is issued, allowing for more confidence in using an account while traveling
![Purchase limits](https://static.developer.mastercard.com/content/consumer-controls/uploads/purchase_limits.svg)

###### Purchase limits {#purchase-limits}

Transaction limits give more visibility to spending

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### Why use it {#why-use-it}

### 61%

of consumers say fraud prevention and account security impacts how they pay for purchases

Mastercard. Global Quantitative Insights Research. 2015

### 43%

of consumers are likely to use card controls if offered by issuers

Business insider intelligence. Mobile banking competitive edge. 2018

### 22%

increase seen by some issuers in spend amount amoung consumers who use alerts and controls on their account

Mastercard. Global Quantitative Insights Research. 2015

### 63%

of consumers are very likely to make a secondary card their primary card if Consumer Controls were available

MASTERCARD GLENBROOK CONSUMER CONTROL RESEARCH. JANUARY 2018

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### Resources {#resources}

Spend Alerts

Increase card usage, drive cardholder engagement, and reduce fraud by empowering consumers with personalized alerts and controls

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**Used
By** Issuers, Developers **Regions** This API is available globally except for Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Sudan, and Syria **Supports** ![mastercard card](https://developer.mastercard.com/img/card_mastercard.svg)![maestro card](https://developer.mastercard.com/img/card_maestro.svg)![visa card](https://developer.mastercard.com/img/card_visa.svg)![discover card](https://developer.mastercard.com/img/card_discover.svg)![amex card](https://developer.mastercard.com/img/card_amex.svg)![diners card](https://developer.mastercard.com/img/card_diners.svg)![jcb card](https://developer.mastercard.com/img/card_jcb.svg) Spend Controls

Increase card usage, drive cardholder engagement, and reduce fraud by empowering consumers with personalized alerts and controls

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**Used
By** Issuers, Developers **Regions** This API is available globally except for Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Sudan, and Syria **Supports** ![mastercard card](https://developer.mastercard.com/img/card_mastercard.svg)![maestro card](https://developer.mastercard.com/img/card_maestro.svg)![visa card](https://developer.mastercard.com/img/card_visa.svg)![discover card](https://developer.mastercard.com/img/card_discover.svg)![amex card](https://developer.mastercard.com/img/card_amex.svg)![diners card](https://developer.mastercard.com/img/card_diners.svg)![jcb card](https://developer.mastercard.com/img/card_jcb.svg)

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