Have you ever seen an item online that you wanted, but you did not feel safe ordering it because of the horror stories that you have heard about credit card abuse and online identity theft? You are not alone if this is how you feel. All of us have heard the stories of credit card numbers being abused or stolen after somebody used the credit card for an online purchase. To be fair, many of the larger and more reputable websites like Amazon.com and Sears and EBay.com all have very good records of protecting customer identity and credit card information. Shopping via these websites is quite safe as these companies go to great lengths to make online shopping safe. But, what about smaller and lesser known companies and websites? That is where a virtual credit card comes in.
So, what is a virtual credit card?
A virtual credit card is a great way to shop for those who may be worried about having their information stolen and used by people who should not have access to it. When you obtain a virtual credit card number you will feel safer and more confident about using the number for online purchases or really any type of purchases. And the risks of using a virtual credit card are very limited. This is because a virtual credit card number is generally only good for a set period of time and for a specific amount of money. If you want to be able to make online purchases without worrying about your information falling into the wrong hands you will want to get all of the information that you can about this great alternative to your standard credit card.
A prepaid virtual credit card works the same way that a prepaid debit card works. The difference is that virtual credit cards can only be used to purchase items online; whereas, a prepaid debit card can be used to make any type of purchase from anywhere. The great thing about a virtual credit card is that it is in no way attached to your checking account, credit card, or any other type of account where someone would be able to steal money from you. This means you will never have to worry about the online purchases that you make, and you will be able to shop hassle free. And because the virtual card is only valid for a short period of time, you do not have to be concerned about the number being stored in some company’s database and stolen down the line. If somebody tried to use the virtual card number two months from now, it just wouldn’t work.
You will find that purchasing items with your prepaid virtual credit card is very easy to do. This type of card is not one that you will be able to hold in your hand. You will be issued a virtual credit card number that you will enter when you have reached the check out at the online store that you are shopping at. Since this is an online only type of card you will not be able to use it when you want to purchase something at a location that physically exists. If you want to purchase something from a business that has a physical location you may want to check with them to see if they have a website where their products can be ordered. If they are a major department store there is a good chance that they have a website that you can access and use your virtual credit card at.
There are some things that you may want to take into consideration about virtual credit cards when you are thinking about signing up for one. First of all, you will want to find a reputable virtual credit card service that will be able to guide you and help you through the sign up process and depositing your money. Sometimes this process can be confusing, but if you find a good company to sign up with then the hard parts will be simplified. Some local and larger banks do offer these services, but not all of them yet. Your best bet to start would be to contact the bank where you currently do business and ask them if they offer a virtual credit card.
Next, you want to consider the fact that while your card is not linked to any of your personal banking information, social security number, or anything else that is attractive to thieves the card number itself could be stolen. It is a good idea to only load as much money on your card as you plan to make your purchase for. If you are unsure about the amount of the purchase you are planning to make you can always go to the checkout of the online store you are shopping at and get the total with shipping costs. This will make the risk that you take almost non-existent. In additional to the card number expiring in a short period, you will not be leaving as usable amount of money left after your purchase.
As with all financial transactions, you will want to pay close attention and read everything that is listed about the virtual credit card that you are interested in getting. You will want to find out if you will be able to get a free virtual credit card or if you will have to pay a fee to get one. Many companies (possibly your local bank) will offer this service for free, but you will most likely be asked to pay for the virtual credit card processing. This is a fee charged each time that you use the card or load money onto it. Be sure that you are clear on these points before you send any money so that you are not surprised when there is a little less money on your card than you thought.
The benefits of using virtual credit cards are clear. You will be able to get rid of the risk of anyone stealing your personal information over the internet since it is not linked to any of your accounts, and you will be able to shop confidently and comfortably knowing that you cannot have any of your money stolen from you. Be sure that you find a company with a good reputation and read through all of the service terms to gain a clear understanding of what you can expect to happen when you sign up for a virtual credit card with that company. If you follow this advice you will be shopping online safely in no time.
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