Abstract: A method and apparatus for preventing transaction card fraud. A transaction card has a keypad display, and a microprocessor for receiving and processing numbers and symbols entered through the keypad. A transaction access code and a corresponding transaction approval code are provided by the card issuer to the seller at the time of a transaction. The cardholder entering the transaction access code into the keypad of the card causes an authentically used card to display a symbol identical to the transaction approval code provided by the issuer. Comparison of the symbol and the transaction approval code can thus be used to authenticate a card transaction. The access code and corresponding approval code are changed by the issuer after each transaction to further aid in fraud prevention.