Money
Virtual card
In Turkish: Sanal kart
A card number that exists only online, often with its own low limit, so a leak cannot reach your main account.
Many banks let you create a virtual card in their app. You top it up with the amount you need, use it at one shop and, if that shop is breached or turns out to be a fake, there is little to lose.
A virtual card is also a good way to try a free trial, because a low or empty balance stops surprise renewals. Which options exist, and their names, depend on your bank.
What to do
- Use a virtual card, or a card with a low limit, for new or unfamiliar shops.
- Load only what the purchase needs.
- Use one for free trials so renewals fail by themselves.