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There is still a lot of confusion among consumers about whether writing ‘See ID” on the back of a credit card is a smart move. I can certainly understand why, since there are a lot of conflicting opinions and information available on the web.

It’s tough to prove that this practice will actually prevent identity theft, but I find it hard to believe it hurts. However, as far as Visa and Mastercard are concerned, a credit card is technically not valid unless it is signed. Merchants are even instructed to not accept credit cards without signatures. I’ve personally never had this happen, but I’ve heard of certain businesses that are strict about not accepting cards with ‘See ID’ written on the signature line. The U.S. Postal Service is likely the most common culprit.

Most people have been following this practice for years because it basically makes them feel better. That’s why I do it. Why not? It does sound logical in theory. If your credit card were to fall into the hands of a thief who wanted to use it to make a purchase, the merchant should look at the back of the card and then require proof of identification before processing the transaction. Of course, that’s how it should work in theory. In reality, I can count on my toes the amount of times a merchant has even looked at my credit card over the past several months. The implementation of technology that allows consumers to swipe their own cards has become quite common at most retail locations as well. Walk into a Home Depot, Safeway, or visit the local gas station, and you don’t even have to interact with a human being to make your purchase. Just swipe your card and you are on your way.

The bottom line is there is no fool-proof method to guarantee your credit card will never be used by thieves. If it makes you feel all warm and fuzzy inside, why not sign the back of the card and write ‘See ID’ as well? It may prevent a thief from using your card to make an in-store purchase, which will save you the time and effort it takes to dispute the fraudulent charges and protect your credit score. In addition, be sure to check your credit card account online often and utilize an identity theft prevention service, such as LifeLock, for added protection. You may not be able to guarantee that a thief will never use your credit card, but the sooner you know about it, the better.

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