Your credit card number vs. your account number. Your credit card number is the complete set of numbers on your card. Typically, the credit card number is 15 or 16 digits long.

Your actual account number may be up to 12 digits long, and it identifies you as the owner of the credit card account. Credit card numbers are assigned by the financial institution issuing the card.

Credit cards usually have 15 or 16 account numbers. Each digit conveys identifying information about the credit card, and the assigned numbers must follow the guidelines set by the ISO.

Most card issuers don't directly offer the ability to generate virtual account numbers, or virtual credit cards, right from your account -- though some do.

Two things to remember: First, your credit card number is not random. Second, it is not your account number. If they were the same, the issuer would have to generate a new account number for you ...

Only two card issuers provide virtual credit card numbers, but they can be helpful for consumers who want to avoid phishing scams and have ease of mind while shopping on the internet.

Key Takeaways. If you want to shield your credit card's account information while online shopping, use your physical card's virtual stand-in that has a unique card number for protection.

Your actual account number may be up to 12 digits long, and it identifies you as the owner of the credit card account. Credit card numbers are assigned by the financial institution issuing the card.

There are standards for the account numbers, and this falls under the purview of the International Organization for Standardization. Each digit conveys identifying information about the credit ...

A credit card number is the long set of digits, typically 16 numbers, usually displayed on the front of the credit card. Its purpose is to identify the credit card issuer and the account holder ...

So, credit cards, which generally have between 13 and 16 account numbers, aren't just random.Each digit conveys identifying information about the credit card, and the assigned numbers must follow ...