A method and apparatus for shielding a user's private billing data, such
as credit card information, or other billing arrangements, but
distributing different billing data to businesses during commerce
therewith. Also disclosed is assigning the different billing data through
real-time and advance distribution of the different billing data to a
user, as well. Also disclosed is validating the correctness of a charge
through confirmation of the charge with a financial institution, such as
a bank, and by comparing itemized charges against expected charges
identified by the user.