The calling card, like most other technology-related tools and accessories, has seen strong development and growth of its related services in recent times. It’s no longer a simple small piece of plastic that carries information like your remaining minutes on it – nowadays, calling cards are highly advanced in their technology, some coming with various extra features like magnetic strips allowing them to be swiped in machines that recognize them (as opposed to having to type in a PIN code). And while this is all good for the most part, the new technology incorporated into modern calling cards has the potential to become problematic if you’re not careful.
If you’re using a phone card that’s swiped against a machine and has a persistent account on it – that is, it’s not a one-time use card but a rechargeable one that’s tied to you in some way – you’re opening yourself to potential identity theft. You should be very careful about where you use your card, and only swipe it against machines you’re sure are legitimate and won’t compromise your details.
Usually, a prepaid phone card would be the wiser solution to the security-concerned ones. It makes it much more convenient to manage your card’s account too, as you don’t have to worry about the recurring bills and other similar factors commonly associated with contract calling cards. In the end, it boils down to personal choice, but you should always give security its due priority.