Can merchants tell I'm using a virtual card?

No, merchants cannot determine whether a card is virtual or physical.

When you make a payment, your card's Bank Identification Number (BIN — the first six to eight digits of your card), indicates the card network (Visa), issuing country, and card type (for example, credit, debit, or prepaid). "Virtual" is not a card type and there is no flag in the transaction data that tells a merchant whether a card is virtual or physical, or that it was issued by Halocard specifically.

That said, some merchants apply their own rules based on card type or risk signals (such as prepaid cards, issuer region, or verification results). In these cases, a transaction may be declined even though the card itself is valid. This is due to the merchant’s payment rules, not because the card is virtual.

Some merchants apply their own rules based on card type, issuing bank, or other risk signals. For example, a free-trial service might decline prepaid cards to reduce abuse. In these cases, a transaction may be declined even though the card itself is valid, due to the merchant's payment rules, not because the card is virtual.

Every Halocard uses a unique card number, so merchants never see your real card details, your bank account, or any information beyond what you provide at checkout. You can also set a custom billing address on each Halocard to keep your personal address private.

Updated on: 27/02/2026