And, if yours get stolen, you could have to pay.
That's in contrast to physical credit and debit cards, which can be used more broadly. Some virtual numbers even work only with specific merchants, the report says. 'If, at any point, a thief gets a hold of your virtual card number, they won't be able to exceed the preset spending limit or make purchases beyond the predetermined expiration date.' 'Virtual card numbers reduce risk by eliminating the need to use your physical card number,' the report says. But there could be a new way to protect yourself: Virtual credit cards that provide only a temporary 16-digit card number, and, depending on the card issuer, a custom spending limit and an expiration date.
