FakecreditcardQuestions
- What is a credit card number?
- How does Fakecreditcard generate valid card numbers?
- What is the Luhn algorithm?
- What is a CVV?
- What can I use generated card numbers for?
- Can I use a generated card to buy something?
- What are real credit cards used for?
- Is Fakecreditcard free and private?
- Which test cards should I use in Stripe, PayPal or Adyen?
What is a credit card number?
A card number (officially the primary account number, PAN) identifies the card, not the person. It is made of three parts: the issuer identification number (IIN or BIN, the first 6–8 digits), the individual account identifier, and a final check digit. The first digit is the Major Industry Identifier: 3 for travel and entertainment (Amex, Diners, JCB), 4 and 5 for banking and finance (Visa, Mastercard), 6 for merchandising and banking (Discover, UnionPay).
How does Fakecreditcard generate valid card numbers?
We pick a real brand prefix (for example 4 for Visa or 37 for Amex), fill the middle digits at random using your browser's cryptographic random number generator, and calculate the last digit with the Luhn algorithm. The result has the correct prefix, length and check digit, so it passes format validation — but no bank has issued it.
What is the Luhn algorithm?
The Luhn algorithm (mod 10), created by IBM scientist Hans Peter Luhn in 1954, is a checksum used by every major card brand. Starting from the rightmost digit, double every second digit, subtract 9 from any result above 9, then add everything up. If the total is a multiple of 10, the number is valid. It protects against typos, not fraud.
What is a CVV?
The CVV (card verification value), also called CVV2, CVC2, CID or CAV2 depending on the brand, is a 3-digit code on the back of the card — or 4 digits on the front for American Express. It is not derived from the card number by any public formula, so a generated CVV is simply random.
What can I use generated card numbers for?
Testing and demonstrations: checking form validation, brand detection and input masks; filling databases with realistic but harmless test data; trying payment-gateway sandboxes that accept any well-formed number; and teaching how card numbers are structured. Avoid real card data in test environments — that is exactly what these numbers are for.
Can I use a generated card to buy something?
No. A purchase requires authorization from the issuing bank, and these numbers are not linked to any account, so the transaction is declined. Using a card number you do not own to obtain goods, services or trials is fraud.
What are real credit cards used for?
A credit card gives access to a revolving line of credit from the issuer: you pay merchants now and repay the bank later, in full or in instalments with interest. Cards are also used for online subscriptions, travel bookings and car rentals, and many offer purchase protection and rewards.
Is Fakecreditcard free and private?
Yes. The generator and validator run entirely in your browser. We do not ask for an account, and we do not receive or store the numbers you generate or validate. The site is funded by advertising.
Which test cards should I use in Stripe, PayPal or Adyen?
In a gateway's sandbox, use the test numbers from its own documentation, because those trigger specific responses (success, decline, 3-D Secure). Generated numbers are best for testing your own validation and UI before the request reaches the gateway.