Differentiate Between Fake Credit Card & Valid Credit Card

Differentiate Between Fake & Valid Credit Card

16^th Jan 2025...

Credit cards have become irreplaceable, allowing users to make easy payments and enabling financial transactions worldwide. However, everything has a flip side, and in credit cards, there exists a shadowy counterpart - fake credit cards. These cards replicate valid credit cards, and fraudsters use them illegally.

You must apply for a credit card with reputed banks only. This blog will teach you the difference between fake and valid credit cards.

Understanding fake Credit Cards

Fake credit cards are unauthorised replicas of legitimate credit cards. Fraudsters create these fake credit cards using stolen credit card information or through illegal ways and use them for fraudulent activities, such as unauthorised purchases, identity theft, or financial fraud. These credit cards have significant risks and can damage consumers' and businesses' credit scores. These cards are a threat to users’ personal sensitive information as well.

How these cards are obtained?

Scammers can get fake credit cards in the following ways:

Card skimming: The details from an original card are obtained when used at the merchant location, ATM or POS. It is then cloned for malicious use.
Data breaches: Data breaches make it easy for hackers to access the leaked credit card details and use them for illegal purposes.

Understanding valid Credit Cards

A valid credit card is a payment card issued by banks that allows cardholders to make purchases or withdraw cash up to a specified limit. Valid credit cards have a unique number, expiration date, and security code.

What makes them valid?

These criteria make the card valid, unlike those fake credit card details:

Issued by a bank
Contains Legitimate Cardholder Information
Have an expiration date embossed
Legally activated by the bank
Have a specified credit limit

The difference between a fake credit card and a valid credit card

Here is the difference between fake and valid credit cards. You must understand that many fake credit cards work like normal, but you must not get involved in illegal ways and be a responsible individual by getting a valid credit card issued by a bank.

Criteria	Fake credit card	Valid credit card
Card holder’s information	Often contains fabricated or stolen details.	It contains accurate and verifiable cardholder information.
Issuance	Created illegally or through fraudulent means.	Issued by a bank
Authorisation	Not authorised by any bank	Authorised by a bank
Security code	They may have a fake security code or none at all.	It has a legitimate security code (CVV).
Expiration date	It may or may not have an expiration date.	Have a valid expiration date
Legitimacy	Illegal	Legal and comply with bank’s regulation
Usage	Typically used for fraudulent activities.	Used for lawful transactions by the cardholder.

Protect yourself from fake Credit Cards

Follow these tips to protect yourself from false credit cards:

Keep your credit cards safe: Always store your real credit card in your wallet or someplace secure to protect it from snatchers and pickpocketers.
Regularly monitor the transactions: It is necessary to monitor your credit card transactions regularly and report any suspicious activity to the banks.
Never share your information: Avoid sharing sensitive information, such as card numbers, OTPs, etc., over text messages or calls.
Avoid throwing the receipts: You must always shred the credit card receipt before throwing it away.
Use secure websites: Make it a habit to use a secured website that starts with https:// when performing credit card transactions.

Risks associated with fake Credit Cards

There are many risks associated with fake credit card numbers and other illegal activities. These are the risks associated with fake credit cards:

Legal consequences: Possessing or using fake credit cards is illegal and can result in criminal charges, fines, and potential imprisonment.
Financial losses: If caught, individuals using fake credit cards may be liable for any purchases made with the card. Additionally, they may be responsible for reimbursing merchants for any fraudulent transactions.
Identity theft: Fake credit cards often involve stolen or fabricated personal information, putting the real cardholder's identity at risk. It can lead to identity theft, where the victim's personal and financial information is used for fraudulent purposes.
Fraudulent transactions: Fake credit cards are commonly used for unauthorised purchases, leading to financial losses for merchants and potentially damaging the reputation of legitimate cardholders.
Damage to credit score: If the fraudulent transactions are not resolved, they can negatively impact the credit score of the legal cardholder, making it difficult for them to obtain credit in the future.
Loss of trust: Engaging in fraudulent activities erodes trust within the community and may lead to strained relationships with family, friends, employers, and financial institutions.
Security risks: Fake credit cards may be used to access sensitive information or commit other types of fraud, posing security risks to individuals and organisations.

How to detect a fake Credit Card

Detecting a fake credit card among real credit cards requires attention to detail. Here are some methods to help you identify a fake credit card:

Card design: Carefully look at the card designs. Look for misspelt issuer names, uneven spacing, or inconsistent font style. Real credit cards have -quality printing.
Magnetic strip: You may run a magnetic strip over the card to see if the data matches the information printed on the card.
Inspect the chip: If the card has a chip, check for signs of tampering or damage. Genuine chips are securely embedded and difficult to remove without leaving traces.
Validate the card with the issuer: If you are still unsure about the card's authenticity, contact the issuer's customer service number provided on the back of the card. They can verify the card's details and confirm whether it is genuine.

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Fake credit cards present significant challenges and risks nowadays. While valid credit cards offer convenient transactions, flexibility, and more, fake credit cards lack robust security by banks. Users need to understand their responsibility and only use a credit card issued from a reputed bank or source to save themselves from fraud and theft.