Can people get your credit card number just from that last four digits?
Credit Card
chicagosports_guy asked:
I ordered pizza and I paid by credit card. I have a receipt with a bunch of X’s except the last four digits. I was about to throw out the receipt when my mom said she heard crooks can get your card info just by looking at a receipt with the last four digits. I know all about card swipers and all that other stuff, but can somebody grab a random receipt and decipher a credit card number just with a name and four digits?
William
I ordered pizza and I paid by credit card. I have a receipt with a bunch of X’s except the last four digits. I was about to throw out the receipt when my mom said she heard crooks can get your card info just by looking at a receipt with the last four digits. I know all about card swipers and all that other stuff, but can somebody grab a random receipt and decipher a credit card number just with a name and four digits?
William
May 17th, 2009 at 3:16 pm
Bill
No.
Although, if the crook knows your name and he/she is asked for the last four digits as a way to authenticate, then they’ll get away with it.
Just shred it. Better be safe than sorry.
May 18th, 2009 at 7:42 pm
Shane
NO. Mom is wrong this time.
May 22nd, 2009 at 2:55 am
Thomas
No, it’s not enough information to reconstruct your CC number. If they have a list of all the issuers and their four digit numbers (first four) they might try but it would be more work than it’s worth.
May 23rd, 2009 at 1:02 am
Deborah
no..theres a reason why most of the numbers are Xed out….
May 24th, 2009 at 6:01 am
Albert
They need more than four digits. But clever thieves who might pilfer through your garbage already know your last name if it is on the mailbox or other items of mail, your address, and if the receipt tells the card type. I would say that chances are low, but you really can’t be to careful shredding sensitive information. I suggest shredding anything with personal information like your address, date of birth, etc.
The major concern with credit card fraud is thieves using your identity to open new cards that you are unaware of potentially ruining your credit rating and racking up thousands of dollars of debt.
Msn.com has a money section with some great articles on how to protect yourself from being a potential victim. You should also check with your credit card company to see your liability in the event of identity theft.
May 24th, 2009 at 7:26 am
Fernando
Perhaps. They might already have gotten your first 4 digits from the trash and that can narrow it pretty far down.
May 25th, 2009 at 5:19 am
Joe
No. Someone would need your SSN, the expiration date, and what bank the card came from, if not more info. But I’m a little paranoid, so I always destroy my receipts.
May 27th, 2009 at 2:04 pm
Tara
No. Your credit card number is made of a very complicated mathematical function. The last four digits would not be enough to reconstruct anyone’s card number. There are certain rules that apply to credit card numbers. For instance, did you realize that different brands for credit cards begin with different numbers, or that the digits in your card number always add to a prime number?
May 29th, 2009 at 2:58 am
Carol
No
because before last four digits is 12 digits, your credit card is 16 digit, it hard to guess the other one
Your MOM means is your PIN number from the card, if the crook gets your pin, with credit card, they can clean you out
May 29th, 2009 at 9:41 pm
Allen
no
May 30th, 2009 at 11:57 pm
Curtis
those numbers are there just for you– they are so you can organize your recipts– see which cards you used to pay for what….
crooks cant get info from you from the last four numbers, but still, when you dont need it, shred it. better safe than sorry.