According to the internet security company McAfee, credit card scams are particularly rampant during the Holiday season. If you’re concerned about credit card fraud when shopping online, here is one way to make your online experience safer: virtual credit cards.

Several of the largest credit card companies, including Bank of America, Citibank, and Discover have introduced temporary, virtual credit card numbers for online purchases. With virtual credit card numbers you don’t have to worry about hackers or spyware intercepting sensitive financial information when using your credit card online; the number is encoded in such a way that even if intercepted, it won’t be possible for credit card thieves to use it for fraudulent transactions.

The cost of virtual credit cards? Nothing, zilch, nada. Since credit card companies are on the hook for fraudulent charges, virtual credit card numbers protect credit card companies as well, so they are offered as a free service for cardholders who prefer an extra measure of protection when shopping online.

To use the service, if you have a credit card with Citigroup, Bank of America or Discover, you simply just have to enroll. Once enrolled, whenever you make a purchase online, you can use the card issuer’s virtual account number service to generate a random credit card number for the purchase. Enter the number during the check-out process, and voila, you’re done. The purchase will appear on your monthly statement like any other transaction.

While similar, the virtual credit card security services go by different names. Here is an overview of the different programs and how to access them.

Citigroup Virtual Account Numbers
If you are a Citi Card holder, first register for an online account, or if you already have one, sign in at CitiCards.com. Once you’re logged in, you can generate a single-use virtual credit card number with just one click and use that during the online check-out process.

Bank of America ShopSafe
To generate a virtual credit card number with BofA’s ShopSafe service, sign in the Bank of America’s Online Banking during the check-out process, enter a spending limit and expiration date, and hit enter. The ShopSafe service will generate a virtual credit card number, which you can use for recurring payments, until either the spending limit or expiration date you specified is reached.

Discover Secure Online Account Number
The virtual credit card numbers generated with Discover’s Secure Online Account Number have the advantage that they can be used repeatedly for the same retailer. This enables you to store the number at the vendor’s website and avoid the cumbersome process of reentering all your credit card information at sites where you shop often.

Discover gives you two options for using the service; you can download it to your desk top or access it online by signing in on the Secure Online Account Numbers webpage. The downloaded version launches automatically as a pop-up window in your browser when you shop online, so you don’t have to hassle with signing in at your credit card company’s website.

The BofA, Discover, and Citibank virtual credit card services are great additions to Visa’s Verified by Visa and MasterCard’s SecureCode, which also aim to curb online credit card fraud. In a world where credit card fraud continues to be on the rise, they offer a welcome added measure of credit card security when shopping online.

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