Can merchants tell the card is virtual?

No — merchants cannot directly see whether a card is virtual or physical.

When you make a payment, merchants see standard card information such as the card network (Visa or Mastercard), issuer country, and card type (for example, debit or prepaid). They do not receive information indicating whether the 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.

Updated on: 26/12/2025