WhatsApp is the most popular global messenger app with over 2 billion monthly active users. With nearly double the users of Facebook Messenger and WeChat, there’s no doubt that thousands of people use WhatsApp to send sensitive information on a daily basis.

But is it safe to send credit card info by WhatsApp?

Although WhatsApp offers end-to-end message encryption, sending personal details like credit card info through an online messaging app is never safe. The problem with sending private info through WhatsApp is you risk letting your credit card info fall into the wrong hands if you or the recipient’s phone is stolen.

If you or the recipient's phone is hacked or breached, the cybercriminal may be able to access your WhatsApp messages, leaving your credit card info exposed. Trustworthy offers the safest way to send credit card info to friends and family.

This guide will cover:

• An overview of WhatsApp’s security and encryption.

• If you should send credit card info on WhatsApp.

• Can you send credit card info through WhatsApp securely.

• Tips for sending credit card info on WhatsApp.

• WhatsApp vs. Trustworthy for storing credit card info.

WhatsApp Security & Encryption: Overview

WhatsApp offers end-to-end encryption. This means your messages, videos, photos, documents, and calls are mostly secure from getting into the wrong hands. 

But what exactly is end-to-end encryption?

End-to-end encryption on WhatsApp messages means only you and the person you’re communicating with can read your messages. Your messages can’t be intercepted by cybercriminals, and even WhatsApp can’t read your messages.

With end-to-end encryption, your messages are secured with a lock. As a result, only you and the recipient have the special key needed to unlock and read the messages. Best of all, this all happens automatically. You don’t need to enable any settings or special chat functions to secure your messages.

Therefore, WhatsApp is inherently more secure than other messaging platforms like Facebook Messenger, Instagram, iMessage, and Skype.

Should You Send Credit Card Info On WhatsApp?

Although your messages are secured with end-to-end encryption, you shouldn’t send credit card info on WhatsApp. This is because your WhatsApp account is exposed if your phone is stolen. Furthermore, WhatsApp doesn’t prevent the recipient from taking screenshots and sending your credit card info to others.

Dealing with the consequences of a stolen credit card is time-consuming and inconvenient. You’ll need to cancel your credit card, ask for a replacement, and wait for the replacement to arrive. If the credit card thief used your credit card to make a purchase, you’d also need to contact your credit card issuer or bank and ask for a chargeback.

It may take several weeks for the credit card issuer to give you your refund. Furthermore, you’ll need to wait for your new credit card to arrive in the mail. Because of all these reasons, sending your credit card info on WhatsApp is impractical.

While your chats won’t get intercepted during transmission, they’re exposed once they arrive at the destination. In other words, your phone and the recipient's devices are far easier targets for potential attacks. From phone thieves to cyberhackers, leaving your credit card info on WhatsApp opens you up to a lot of unnecessary dangers. 

Can You Send Credit Card Info Through WhatsApp Securely?

There is no way to guarantee 100% security when you send credit card info online. Although WhatsApp is a secure messaging platform, you can’t send credit card info through WhatsApp securely.

This is because anyone who accesses your WhatsApp account can view your message history. Therefore, your credit card info is exposed on any device you or your recipient is logged into on WhatsApp. 

For example, if you logged into WhatsApp on a public computer to chat with your friends and forget to log out, the next user would be able to find your credit card info. Furthermore, if you or the recipient’s phone is stolen, your personal details on WhatsApp are exposed. 

Tips For Sending Credit Card Info On WhatsApp

I completely understand how convenient it is to send credit card info on WhatsApp. If you still insist on sending your credit card info on WhatsApp, here’s a list of five best practices to follow. 

Keep in mind, Trustworthy offers a much safer solution that’s just as convenient to use as WhatsApp.

1. Enable Two-Step Verification

You can find Two-Step Verification in the Settings menu inside WhatsApp. WhatsApp’s Two-Step Verification is a 6-digit pin you create. If you register your phone number with WhatsApp again in the future, you’ll need to provide the 6-digit pin to access your WhatsApp account.

Once enable Two-Step Verification, hackers can’t access your WhatsApp account even if they have your phone number. 

2. Password Protect Your App

In WhatsApp’s Privacy settings, you can enable Screen Lock. Enabling Screen Lock means you will need to use Touch ID or Face ID to unlock WhatsApp. 

This feature is essential to turn on because it prevents phone thieves from accessing your WhatsApp. Therefore, even if your phone is stolen, the thief can’t access the credit card info you send in a WhatsApp message. 

Here’s how to enable Screen Lock:

1. Open WhatsApp.

2. Click on Settings in the bottom right-hand corner.

3. Tap on Account.

4. Open Privacy.

5. Press Screen Lock.

6. Toggle Require Face ID / Require Touch ID on.

7. Select Immediately for the time duration.

Now, you’ll need to verify your identity with Face ID or Touch ID every time you open WhatsApp to access your account. 

3. Send Partial Credit Card Info

Rather than sending your full credit card info, you can send a partial set of numbers. For example, credit cards are 16 digits long and have an expiration date and card verification value (CVV). 

You can send 10 digits through WhatsApp and the other 6 digits through text message. Then, you can send the expiration date and CVV through a phone call. By splitting up the transmission methods, hackers can’t intercept your entire credit card number.

4. Delete Confidential Messages

After you send the message with your credit card info, delete it immediately. Furthermore, ask the recipient to delete the message on their WhatsApp account when they finish using your credit card.

The longer your credit card lives on any device, the higher the chance of credit card theft. Deleting your messages quickly ensures that noone can view your message history containing your credit card info.

5. Skip WhatsApp and Use Trustworthy

Although WhatsApp is one of the most secure messaging apps, you shouldn’t use it to send confidential details like credit card info. Instead, use Trustworthy to securely send credit card info to friends and family.

Trustworthy offers more security and encryption than WhatsApp, eliminating the risk of your credit card info falling into the wrong hands. 

The following section explains the differences between WhatsApp and Trustworthy for sending credit card info.

WhatsApp vs. Trustworthy For Sending Credit Card Info

Credit card fraud is the most common form of identity theft in the United States. This means you need to be careful when sending credit card info online. Although WhatsApp is one of the most secure messaging apps, it still doesn’t guarantee 100% safety when sending your credit card info.

Trustworthy offers a better solution for sending private information than Trustworthy.

Trustworthy is a highly-secure digital storage platform dedicated to storing and sending confidential information like credit cards. With Trustworthy, you can safely upload credit cards, personal IDs, bank account info, passwords, and much more.

Then, you can share individual files by sending an email invitation to the recipient through Trustworthy’s online dashboard. The recipient will then need to create a Trustworthy account with two-factor authentication in order to view the shared credit card info.

Furthermore, you can remove shared access at any time and set a timer to remove shared access at a certain point in the future. 

Trustworthy (click here to start your free trial) eliminates the risks of sending your credit card info through WhatsApp and protects your personal information from external threats. 

Other Credit Card Resources

• Is It Safe to Send Credit Card Info by Email?

• Is It Safe to Send Credit Card Info by Text?

• Is It Safe to Save and Send Credit Card Info Through Google Drive?