Abstract: An arrangement for increasing the life, readability, and security of credit cards and similar elements having a portion to receive an authorized signature. Supplied with the card or thereon is a strip of transparent material having one adhesive surface, sized to cover the signature portion of the element. When this strip is applied to the element in overlay relation to the signature, it protects the latter from smudging and rubbing off, which occasionally occurs to the point that an alarm underlay begins to appear. Any attempt to peel off the tape and alter the signature results in appearance of the alarm underlay.