One thing to keep in mind when investigating ways to shop safer online is to understand the difference between virtual credit cards and other digital payment methods. Mobile wallets, for example, aren’t the same thing as virtual credit cards, though they can offer additional security when shopping online. Instead of providing alternative credit card numbers, mobile wallets allow you to associate your credit cards with a specific service, which acts as an intermediary for payments. It’s the technology companies that seem to be making the most inroads into getting users onboard with mobile wallets, thanks, in large part, to their devoted mobile phone users. Apple Pay, Google Pay, Samsung Pay, and Microsoft Pay are all vying for acceptance at retailers around the country. One primary difference between a mobile wallet (or digital wallet) is that a mobile wallet can be used to make payments in a store — because it is a payment method — whereas a virtual card number is meant to be used for a specific online payment. Like it or not, credit card fraud is an unfortunate way of life in our modern economy. When credit card issuers close a doorway to fraud, the relentless fraudsters open their own metaphorical windows.