Capital One credit card security features

Scammers are increasingly hard at work during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Federal Trade Commission has warned consumers about phishing and other coronavirus-related scams. But Capital One credit cards have a number of security features that can help you protect yourself from fraud. 

No matter what’s happening in the world or how busy you get, many of the tools you need to stay on top of your account are at your fingertips. And you can access and enable features by adding the Capital One Mobile app to your phone or by signing in to your account online.

Here are some of the fraud protection features and benefits available:

With just a few steps, you can help stop fraudulent activity in its tracks. Add your mobile phone number to your account to automatically get alerts if Capital One notices potential suspicious activity on your account. Capital One will text you from the same number every time so you’ll know it’s not a fraudster.

If you don’t recognize the suspicious charge from the text message, respond “no,” and Capital One can place a block on your card so no further charges can be made. After that, you can contact customer service to get help requesting a replacement card with a new number. 

Keep track of your spending in real time. When you set up instant purchase notifications in the Capital One Mobile app (steps below), you can receive an alert any time a transaction is approved on your card.¹ You can enable notifications that include the amount of the purchase and information about the merchant. 

To enable notifications, follow these steps:

1. Log in and tap on the “Profile” tab.
2. Tap on “Alerts & Notifications.”
3. Select the card you want to set up alerts for.
4. Tap on “Instant Purchase Notification.”
5. Select your alert preference: push notifications, email or SMS.
6. Choose a desired dollar amount minimum. (Tip: Choosing $0 is great for tracking all purchases.)
7. Tap “Save,” and you’re all set!

It’s an extra layer of confidence, so you’re in the know when purchases hit your account. Plus, you can set up alerts to notify you about your balance and recurring payments.

It’s incredibly frustrating to lose or misplace a credit card—much less have it stolen. The good news is you can instantly lock your credit card to prevent it from being used for purchases. And if you find it, you can unlock it just as easily to use your card like normal again.

Wondering how to lock your Capital One credit card? The card lock feature is simple to use and takes just a few taps on the Capital One Mobile app:²

1. Log in and select the card you’d like to lock.
2. Scroll down to the “Need Help?” section.
3. Tap “Lock Card.”

Receive your monthly statements online to avoid having them get lost in or stolen from the mail. And reduce clutter while doing it!

To enable paperless statements, follow these steps:

1. Log in, and tap on the “Profile” tab.
2. Tap on “Account & Feature Settings.”
3. Tap on “Paperless Settings.”
4. Turn on paperless for your desired accounts.
5. Tap “Update Settings.”

Eno is the Capital One assistant that looks out for you and your money around the clock. That includes helping protect your account by monitoring your transactions and reaching out when it spots something that seems out of the ordinary, such as duplicate charges, a significant increase in your recurring charges, or an unusually large tip. And Eno is available everywhere you are—through texts, email alerts, mobile app alerts and online.

Eno is free for Capital one customers. To receive email and mobile app notifications from Eno, update your contact information in the Capital One Mobile app or online. To receive text notifications from Eno, sign in to your Capital One online account, confirm your consent and start chatting with Eno by sending a text message to 227-898.

Virtual card numbers from Eno

Want to keep your credit card account more secure when shopping online from your desktop browser? Eno can create virtual card numbers when you check out online, allowing you to keep your actual card number under wraps. It’s a simpler and more secure way to make purchases online. And it’s easy to get started. Here’s how:

1. Add Eno to your browser.
2. Click the Eno icon when you’re ready to pay, and Eno will generate a merchant-specific virtual card number for that site. No need to reach for your wallet!
3. Lock or unlock your virtual card numbers anytime without affecting your other spending.

And virtual card numbers keep working even if you get a replacement card. So there’s no need to manually update your card information on sites where you’ve stored a virtual card number. Eno will handle it behind the scenes automatically.³ 

No matter what Capital One card you have, there are security features to help you protect yourself from fraud. Learn more about how to help protect yourself against credit card fraud.