Photocopies of Credit Cards?

Code.
I keep my numbers written elsewhere in a simple code (like adding one number to each digit, or two, or encoding everything but the last four digits, etc.).

I don't copy the cc's, however, I do have the #'s and the phone #'s of the various cards so I can contact the issuer if it is stolen or compromised. Also, am pretty religious in checking them on-line at least every other day. I keep the information, along with copies of our passports in my neck pouch. DW also has the same information with her.
Learned the hard way when my wallet(which I do not now carry when in the EU) was lifted on the Paris subway way back in '94. I usually only take 3 cc's with me to the EU, Amex, an MC, and my credit Union debit card.

You could leave the info with someone back home and in case of trouble they could email it to you. I don't worry too much about it because if your credit card is lost or stolen and then used fraudulently your maximum liability is only 50 bucks.

I keep my copies on my person, in the money belt, as the last, best secure place for them. On one trip I also had another set of copies at home where a family member could get me the information in an emergency (but I've failed to keep that practice up.) One key to remember, if you're making copies or just writing down the numbers, is to get the information on BOTH SIDES of the card. Be sure you get both the domestic and international telephone numbers to call if you have a problem. Should your cards be stolen, you will want to have that contact info available as quickly as possible.

We keep the numbers (in code) on our cell phone and on a small info sheet. Also have a copy with family member but cannot depend on contacting them due to the time change. In this day and age, we don't like the idea of someone finding a photocopy of our cards. Could a thief actually use this info...don't know???

I agree that having photo copies of your credit card is almost as good as having your credit card. We do three things We encode all of numbers in a simple random, substitution code. We don't encode the first number of the card because everyone knows the first number of every card anyway and we don't want to provide any clues for breaking the code. And the same is for the expiration date. Nancy's suggested code is too simple because you do need some type of a random substitution code. Second we print several very reduced copies of the encoded numbers. All fit on about a 2"x2" piece of paper and we slip that into a couple hidden cracks in our luggage. Third, we email the encode copy to ourselves in the event the other copies are lost.

I carry copies when traveling in the US. If I lose a credit card (happened once in Chicago), I have all the numbers to quickly and accurately shut down the card. Why would I not want to be able to do that? It is called being prepared.

I don't bring a photocopy of the cards... What I do I have in at least two places is a list of the cards and banks with the account number in a bit of code and the 800 number, the non-800 (toll) number and all the international numbers for the countries I am traveling to that one would call to report them lost or stolen.

Quite frankly, I think the main thing that you need is the phone number on the back of the card that you would call to report a card lost or stolen. Here is my experience. I had my wallet nicked when I lived in London. I had 3 Visa cards issued by 3 banks in 3 different countries. I made one single call to Visa International. I called from the office of the transit police. The transit police in London had the number posted in their office (pickpocketing is pretty common in tube stations). All Visa International needed was my name and the name of the issuing bank. That was all I had to do to block transactions on those 3 cards. Later that day from home, I called each of the issuers to arrange for a replacement card. Again, I did not need the card number.

Thanks, all, for the comments. I'm on to developing a secret code. I hope it won't turn out to be a code so secret that even I won't remember it!

If you have an iPhone or other smart phone there are password protected apps that you can enter you credit card and bank info into that are a safe way to store and carry such info.

I always copy my credit cards, front and back, for international trips (as well as my driver's license, insurance card, ATM card, etc). One copy stays home, one goes in my moneybelt and the third goes into a pocket at the bottom of my suitcase (after I arrive at my destination). I'm not that worried about someone getting hold of the numbers, partly because my credit card activity is monitored and because credit card holders aren't liable for anything over $50, as another poster mentioned.