虚拟信用卡：他们的工作方式，优点和缺点以及如何获得一个

如果您是一个经常在线购物者，您可能以前可能听说过虚拟信用卡，并且可能对它们的工作方式感到好奇。

If you’re a frequent online shopper, you’ve likely heard of virtual credit cards before and may be curious about how they work. In short, virtual credit cards let you shop for purchases without revealing your actual credit card account number. They can be either temporary or permanent. No surprise: They are intended mostly for online purchases.

如果您是一个经常在线购物者，您可能以前可能听说过虚拟信用卡，并且可能对它们的工作方式感到好奇。简而言之，虚拟信用卡可让您在不透露实际信用卡帐户号的情况下购买购买。它们可以是临时的或永久的。毫不奇怪：它们主要用于在线购买。

However, virtual card numbers have some downsides. Keep reading to learn how virtual credit cards work, their pros and cons and how you can get one.

但是，虚拟卡号有一些不利之处。继续阅读以了解虚拟信用卡的工作原理，他们的优点和缺点以及如何获得。

What is a virtual credit card?

什么是虚拟信用卡？

A virtual credit card number is essentially a credit card number that works for your account but is different from the number printed on your physical credit card.

虚拟信用卡号本质上是一个可用于您帐户的信用卡号，但与您的物理信用卡上打印的数字不同。

In some cases (like with Capital One’s Eno), this virtual number may be created by a third party on the spot and may be changed each time you make a purchase.

在某些情况下（例如Capital One的ENO），该虚拟数字可能由第三方当场创建，并且每次购买时都可以更改。

Using a virtual credit card can keep your physical credit card information safe when shopping online or over the phone. There are several ways thieves try to steal your personal data, but this short-lived, randomized credit card number — referred to as a “token” — is a way to keep that information safe when making purchases from a distance.

在线购物或通过电话购物时，使用虚拟信用卡可以确保您的物理信用卡信息安全。盗贼试图通过几种方式窃取您的个人数据，但是这个短暂的，随机的信用卡号（称为“代币”）是一种在从远处进行购买时确保该信息安全的一种方法。

Keep in mind: Virtual credit cards are only available with an existing credit card, so you won’t have to worry about an additional hard inquiry on your credit report or credit score requirements.

请记住：虚拟信用卡仅适用于现有信用卡，因此您不必担心您的信用报告或信用评分要求进行额外的努力询问。

How do you use a virtual credit card?

您如何使用虚拟信用卡？

Virtual credit card numbers are linked to an existing credit card account and generated at random to prevent your actual bank account information from being shared online. From a merchant’s point of view, these numbers appear as a regular credit card number.

虚拟信用卡号链接到现有信用卡帐户，并随机生成，以防止您的实际银行帐户信息在线共享。从商人的角度来看，这些数字是常规信用卡号。

Depending on the issuer, cardholders may be able to request a virtual card number online through their credit card account. Once a virtual card number is generated, cardholders can access these numbers immediately and request spending caps, among other customizations.

根据发行人，持卡人可以通过其信用卡帐户在线请求虚拟卡号。一旦生成虚拟卡号，持卡人就可以立即访问这些数字，并要求支出帽以及其他自定义。

Why should consumers use a virtual card number?

为什么消费者应该使用虚拟卡号？

In terms of privacy, virtual credit cards minimize fraud risk by adding an extra layer of enhanced protection for consumers and businesses completing transactions online.

在隐私方面，虚拟信用卡通过为在线完成交易的消费者和企业添加额外的增强保护层来最大程度地降低欺诈风险。

For individual consumers, virtual card numbers not only provide more privacy but also protect private banking information and limit data tracking from advertisers.

对于个人消费者，虚拟卡号不仅提供了更多的隐私，还可以保护私人银行信息并限制广告商的数据跟踪。

For businesses, virtual credit cards make it easier to manage cash flow while also improving fraud protection, controlling vendor payments and safely extending spending power to employees and contractors.

对于企业而言，虚拟信用卡使管理现金流动变得更容易，同时还可以改善欺诈保护，控制供应商的付款并安全地扩大向员工和承包商的支出权力。

Overall, virtual credit cards are a good option for anyone who shops online and prefers a little bit of extra protection against the possibility of being hacked.

总体而言，对于任何在线购物并更喜欢额外保护的人而不是被黑客入侵的人来说，虚拟信用卡都是一个不错的选择。

Are virtual credit cards safe?

虚拟信用卡安全吗？

In short, yes. Credit card issuers that offer virtual credit cards ensure secure protection by assigning a 16-digit number associated with an existing account. Cardholders can even set a PIN (personal identification number).

简而言之，是的。提供虚拟信用卡的信用卡发行人通过分配与现有帐户相关的16位数字来确保安全保护。持卡人甚至可以设置PIN（个人身份证号码）。

Most virtual credit card numbers are required to comply with PCI DSS (payment card industry data security standards), which ensures safe transactions between virtual card number owners, the credit card issuer and the merchant receiving payment.

大多数虚拟信用卡号都需要遵守PCI DSS（付款卡行业数据安全标准），这确保虚拟卡号所有者，信用卡发行者和商人接收付款之间的安全交易。

Pros and cons of virtual credit cards

虚拟信用卡的优缺点

While virtual credit cards can be convenient to use, there are some downsides to consider. Here are the major pros and cons to expect if you use a digital credit card:

虽然虚拟信用卡可以方便使用，但仍有一些缺点需要考虑。如果您使用数字信用卡，这是您期望的主要利弊：

Pros

优点

Cons

缺点

How do virtual card numbers differ from mobile wallets and payment apps?

虚拟卡号与移动钱包和付款应用程序有何不同？

The most notable difference between virtual credit cards and mobile wallets (like Google Pay and Apple Pay) is where they are accepted. However, both mobile wallets and virtual card numbers are secure, and there isn’t necessarily one that is better than the other. Here are the most notable differences:

虚拟信用卡和移动钱包（例如Google Pay和Apple Pay）之间最明显的区别是他们被接受的地方。但是，移动钱包和虚拟卡号都是安全的，并且不一定比另一个更好。这是最显着的区别：

How to get a virtual credit card

如何获得虚拟信用卡

With most major issuers, virtual card numbers are available for any credit card they offer, provided you take steps to initiate them on your account.

对于大多数主要发行人，只要您采取步骤将其启动在您的帐户中，则可以使用虚拟卡号。

So, it’s possible virtual card numbers may already be available for your existing credit cards, as well as for any new cards. Explore your online account or app or contact customer service to see how to get access to a virtual number for your card.

因此，您现有的信用卡以及任何新卡可能已经可以使用虚拟卡号。探索您的在线帐户或应用程序或联系客户服务，以查看如何访问卡的虚拟号码。

Virtual credit cards by issuer

发行人的虚拟信用卡

If you’re considering virtual credit card numbers to help keep your account safe, you should know which card issuers and credit cards offer this option. Consider how the following card issuers use virtual credit card numbers and make them available to customers.

如果您正在考虑使用虚拟信用卡号码以确保您的帐户安全，则应知道哪些卡发行人和信用卡提供此选项。考虑以下卡发行人如何使用虚拟信用卡号码并将其提供给客户。

The bottom line

底线

Virtual credit cards can hide your real credit card number in order to protect the sensitive details of your account. Depending on your card issuer, your use of virtual card numbers could even be automatic, with no work required on your part.

虚拟信用卡可以隐藏您的真实信用卡号码，以保护您的帐户的敏感细节。根据您的卡发行人的不同，您对虚拟卡号的使用甚至可能是自动的，而您的工作不需要工作。

Keep in mind, however, that using a traditional credit card for purchases isn’t inherently risky, and that’s true whether you’re shopping in person or online. This is due to the fact that credit cards tend to offer zero liability for fraud, so you won’t be on the hook for purchases you didn’t make either way.

但是请记住，使用传统信用卡进行购买并不是固有的风险，无论您是亲自购物还是在线购物。这是由于信用卡倾向于对欺诈行为提供零责任，因此您不会挂在购买的障碍中。

Frequently asked questions about virtual credit cards

关于虚拟信用卡的常见问题

Can you get instant approval for a virtual credit card number?

您可以立即批准虚拟信用卡号吗？