Discover Card has introduced a feature aimed at virtually guaranteeing your credit card number is secure when you shop online. Called “Secure Online Account Numbers,” Discover enables cardholders to create a disposable credit card number to be used at just one retailer online. Once assigned to a retailer, the card number will not work anywhere else. So if the number is stolen, it won’t do the thief any good.
Discover credit card holders will find the feature at the bottom left of the Discover home page. The links is called “Secure Online Account Number.” It gives cardholders two ways to use this feature. First, software can be downloaded to a PC or Mac. The software will generate the secure online account number to be used for shopping. Second, cardholders can set up a secure account number via the Internet from any computer.
Each secure online account number can only be used at the online retailer where it was first assigned. As a result, if the number is stolen, it can’t be used anywhere else. And because it’s not the actual Discover card number, the cardholder’s account number is never at risk of loss.
There are some instances when you should use your actual card number. With some online purchases, you must show your actual card when you pick up your merchandise. For example, you should probably use your actual card number when buying airline or theater tickets. In both cases, you may have to show your actual card when you check in to get your tickets.
Another thing to keep in mind is that these online account numbers will expire when your actual card expires. As a result, when you get your new card, you’ll need to generate new online numbers as well. Fortunately, this doesn’t happen but once every few years.