1. Zero liability: This is offered by many credit card issuers. While using a credit card if someone happens to steal your credit card and make several charges without your consent, you aren't responsible for anything accept the first $50. If you are have a card with zero liability ,you are not responsible at all.

Downside: Some credit card issuers want you to abide by their rules and report fraud within a certain length of time . It has always paid off to know how your credit card works.

2. One time use/ Temporary numbers: This type of deal is often downloaded from a major credit card site by login to one's account and getting a disposable number. This is good only for online purchases.

Downside: There are some credit cards that will allow you to use these numbers for recurring charges when it comes to things like a club membership for a period of up to one year. You will also find that other credit card companies don't allow this option. You can't use this disposable number when you are going to pick a purchase up in person. So, if you had planned on using this for picking up airline tickets, you are out of luck.

Reason: From past experience using a credit card , you know that often you are asked to show the card to verify to the merchant that you are the liable party that made the purchase. If you are using a disposable number, there is no way to match the card with your identification.

Extra passwords: This is often offered by many card issuers . This may be similar to the way you use sign in to your email if you have a computer. In using this type of program, you include extra passwords, known by only you and the card issuer or bank when you buy from certain online merchants.

Downside: Not every merchant online that accepts this type of card participates in this program. Therefore if someone happens to steal your number, they could make all the purchases they wanted online as long as the password wasn't recommended.

Bottom Line: It pays to read the fine print and to choose a credit card carefully. People do have a tendency to feel a lot safer using a credit card, especially if they like to pay as they go when shopping online with merchants they have never met or shopped with before. When it comes to shopping online , using a credit card is the only way to shop.