How to Prevent Online Identity Theft by using a Virtual Credit Card

Credit card thieves are always looking for credit card numbers and personal details and this pauses a great risk to online shoppers. A virtual credit card is however, a safer method of shopping online with all the advantages of a normal credit card. They are useful because of the increasing theft of credit card numbers and personal information in the internet.

Virtual Credit Cards carry a disposable credit card number facility that uses a unique single number; have a short-term expiry period and yet offer the necessary security without having to disclose your normal bank account and, they are equally effective for online trading. The randomness of the number and frequent changes ensures card thieves cannot get your normal bank account number. The virtual credit card number is only useful on the website where it has been used. It cannot be stolen or misused by any other person except the person to whom it is issued. It is therefore of no use to scammers, credit card and personal details thieves.

Due to increasing cases of theft and e-mails frauds, it is prudent to maintain the secrecy of your personal details so that scammers do not make you their target. Credit card companies offer prepaid virtual credit cards with the limitation of usage. They also go by various names such as Visa gift cards and are usable like normal credit cards.

There are limitations on where the card can be used such as buying theater tickets, confirming airline and hotel bookings and for car rentals. The virtual card will only exist on the web where it is intended and is therefore safe for purchasing goods online.

The card numbers are computer generated hence they do not contain personal details that can be misused by persons for whom they are not intended. The number is generated only once for a specific purpose thus retaining the privacy of the user and restricting the usage to a particular transaction. It therefore cannot be used for more than the intended transaction. It consists of a sixteen-digit number with three and two digit numbers denoting the expiry period. Unauthorized persons cannot therefore easily memorize it.

Virtual Credit Cards operate like prepaid credit cards, but do not require the issue of a plastic for identification or for insertion into any data terminal. Most credit card companies issue them and they can also be purchased from Paypal as well as other vendors.

Virtual Credit Cards work just as normal credit card numbers except that they are random and unique to the intended activity and with a short-term expiry period. They usually have no membership fees and yet offer full security without giving unnecessary personal and private details. They are therefore secure and do not require or maintain any history of the user, and do not demand verification of the user. They are therefore the smartest method for online trading in terms of reliability, privacy, convenience and security. They are foolproof to scammers and other online thieves.