Online credit card payments " how safe is your money?
Recent headlines in the newspapers have painted a dark portrait of personal details being either stolen, discarded in rubbish bins by banks or cleverly extracted by criminal masterminds, all using the Internet as a means of getting hold of your personal banking details. Credit card transactions on the Internet have never been higher, as the high street sales crash and online sales rocket. So how safe are your details when using a credit card online?
Despite the terrifying headlines of identity theft and credit card fraud, its actually quite safe to use your credit card to make purchases online, as long as you follow a few basic rules. There are plenty of precautions you can take to protect yourself and your credit card against the Internet scammers or even genuine businesses that find themselves victims of the current economic downturn and collapse before your transaction is completed. Even some of the biggest companies are at risk, as the dramatic collapse of XL Leisure, Britains third largest tour operator, so clearly demonstrated last year. So it pays to pause for a moment and make a couple of checks before you type in your details and press the 'enter button.
The first tip is, ironically enough, always use a credit card rather than a debit card. Section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act 1974 says that if something does go wrong the credit card company is jointly and severally liable with the retailer. This covers transactions from 100 up to 30,000 and means that if the company does go out of business before you receive your goods, you can claim the money back from your card issuer. A court ruling has determined that this act also applies to purchases from overseas companies, which is particularly useful for online shoppers. However, the regulations may not apply if you have made a purchase through PayPal or other similar payment systems. Debit card transactions do not have the same kind of protection and are more at risk in the event of something going wrong.
Check if your credit card offers an Internet guarantee. It means that you will be covered against the cost of fraudulent online activities, although the exact terms and conditions may vary from card to card. Card providers that do not offer Internet guarantees may instead offer a dispute procedure. This means that if you cannot recover your money back from the company, a liquidator (in the case of a company going into administration) or another third party then you may be able to take the case to arbitration and recover your funds that way.
Check your computer before and after you log on to ensure that your security systems are up to date and adequate. If you do not have anti-virus software and a firewall installed, your computer and consequently your credit card details are vulnerable to attack from spyware, which can skim your details by counting the keystrokes of passwords and other sensitive information. If an email asks you to confirm your details here by clicking on a link, there is a very good chance that the email is a scam, as a bank or credit card provider will never ask you to confirm your details either by email or phone. Delete these phishing emails unopened, or you could suddenly find your bank account or credit card funds draining away very quickly. Keep all passwords secure and never use the same password for all your Internet activities. Once that password becomes known your entire system (including your credit card details) become vulnerable.
When using a credit card online, look for two indicators that you are using a secure site. The first is the inclusion of the letter s in the URL address (a secure site will start with the prefix https) and the second is a padlock icon in the browser frame of your screen. If either of these are missing, the site is not secure and your details are vulnerable. Check the company you are buying from, ensuring that they have a real address and telephone number and not just a cyber-address. By following a few guidelines and being aware that the responsibility for your financial security is down to you, using a credit card online can be both safe and easy to do.
Despite the terrifying headlines of identity theft and credit card fraud, its actually quite safe to use your credit card to make purchases online, as long as you follow a few basic rules. There are plenty of precautions you can take to protect yourself and your credit card against the Internet scammers or even genuine businesses that find themselves victims of the current economic downturn and collapse before your transaction is completed. Even some of the biggest companies are at risk, as the dramatic collapse of XL Leisure, Britains third largest tour operator, so clearly demonstrated last year. So it pays to pause for a moment and make a couple of checks before you type in your details and press the 'enter button.
The first tip is, ironically enough, always use a credit card rather than a debit card. Section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act 1974 says that if something does go wrong the credit card company is jointly and severally liable with the retailer. This covers transactions from 100 up to 30,000 and means that if the company does go out of business before you receive your goods, you can claim the money back from your card issuer. A court ruling has determined that this act also applies to purchases from overseas companies, which is particularly useful for online shoppers. However, the regulations may not apply if you have made a purchase through PayPal or other similar payment systems. Debit card transactions do not have the same kind of protection and are more at risk in the event of something going wrong.
Check if your credit card offers an Internet guarantee. It means that you will be covered against the cost of fraudulent online activities, although the exact terms and conditions may vary from card to card. Card providers that do not offer Internet guarantees may instead offer a dispute procedure. This means that if you cannot recover your money back from the company, a liquidator (in the case of a company going into administration) or another third party then you may be able to take the case to arbitration and recover your funds that way.
Check your computer before and after you log on to ensure that your security systems are up to date and adequate. If you do not have anti-virus software and a firewall installed, your computer and consequently your credit card details are vulnerable to attack from spyware, which can skim your details by counting the keystrokes of passwords and other sensitive information. If an email asks you to confirm your details here by clicking on a link, there is a very good chance that the email is a scam, as a bank or credit card provider will never ask you to confirm your details either by email or phone. Delete these phishing emails unopened, or you could suddenly find your bank account or credit card funds draining away very quickly. Keep all passwords secure and never use the same password for all your Internet activities. Once that password becomes known your entire system (including your credit card details) become vulnerable.
When using a credit card online, look for two indicators that you are using a secure site. The first is the inclusion of the letter s in the URL address (a secure site will start with the prefix https) and the second is a padlock icon in the browser frame of your screen. If either of these are missing, the site is not secure and your details are vulnerable. Check the company you are buying from, ensuring that they have a real address and telephone number and not just a cyber-address. By following a few guidelines and being aware that the responsibility for your financial security is down to you, using a credit card online can be both safe and easy to do.
About the Author:
Henry Jones is a financial writer that likes to bring forward issues and information within the financial market. You can find further information on credit cards online here.
posted by Credit Counseling at
7:50 AM
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