How Many Credit Card Numbers Are There
The number of a credit card is uniquely printed behind the card. In most cases, they are 16 numbers. They are often printed behind the card. They are at the same location as on a debit card. If you find yourself using a Discover, Visa, or Mastercard, you will find 16 digits, but if you are using an American Express card, the numbers will be 15. The card has other numbers on the other side, i.e., the front or back, depending on the design of the card. The other numbers, apart from the card number are also numbers that will be used to execute transactions and will be used to show that the card is a genuine one.
Since the credit card number is the longest one, what are the other numbers and what do they mean?
Even though most of the numbers on your card seem to be numbers selected at random, there are others that have real meanings and were not just written. A clear instance is whenever you are given your card and the longest number, be it 15 or 16 digits. If the number starts with the number 3, what it means is that it is part of the American Express card, the Diners club card or the Carte Blanche credit card. If the card number begins with a 4, chances are that it is coming from the Visa credit card issuing company. If you find a card whose first number begins with a 5, then it is part of the Master Card group. Lastly, if it is the number 6 that begins the long number (card number), then then it belongs to the Discover group of credit cards.
Now, the next numbers that follow have been carefully arranged. For example, the next five numbers that follow could be used to find out which institution or organization gave out the card to the user, whether it is a bank, a microfinance company, a union or some institution. The next five numbers that follow also let us know the type of product it is that you have subscribed to. A clear instance is that every Chase Visa Signature credit card starts with 414720.
Now, the remaining numbers of the long 15 or 16 depending on which company issued the card have a connection to the account number of the user. The very last of the 15 or 16 digits are called “check” numbers for a purpose. These check numbers help the company workers to know if your card is an active one or has expired. There is a formula that is used to make that determination. Once this formula is used, it is easy to use a computer to immediately ascertain or know if your card is working or has expired.
Credit card numbers and their linked account numbers
The fascinating thing about credit card numbers is that, even though it is linked to your account number, what you see on your card as a card number is not your account number. You will not find your account number on your card; you will only find it when you go for your statement or when the statement is sent to you. What happens if you lose your card or it gets stolen is that, the card will be replaced. And it will come with the same numbers only that your account number also remains the same but it still will not be put on your card.
The other numbers on the credit card
In addition to the long card number of 15 or 16 digits, there is a three (3) digit number on the other side of the card i.e., behind the card number. This is known as the Card Verification Code or CVC. You will find it in the place where your signature is supposed to be. Some experts call it the signature panel. The aim of this 3-digit number is to help secure your card whenever you are using it to make payments for any good or service. If the card is coming from American Express or you use any of their cards, you will realize that theirs is 4 digits and its aim is also to help provide a more secure feature to prevent fraudsters from easily being able to use your card. They call it the Card Verification Value or the CVV
Protecting your credit card number
Activities of fraudsters and scammers have become very rampant in recent times and it is only prudent for you to know how to protect your card against these.
The very first thing to do to protect your card is to be watchful of how you capture your card in pictures that expose your credit card numbers to the public. The kind of cameras on phones these days are very sharp and within a split second, your information could be with a third party who might just use the information for anything. Once such a picture can be enlarged to review the contents, your card number and vitals are out there to the public. If you must needs to take a picture of your card, make sure that your number is covered just to save yourself. If you don’t cover it all at all, make sure the last ten or nine are well covered. Also, if you need to write your credit card numbers down too, make sure it is kept in a place where no one can have access to them.
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