Over the years, online payments have become popular than ever all over the world. The undeniable fact that rotates around online transactions is that it is an easy and hassle-free process.
Online payments seem to an option everywhere on the internet today, whether you’re shopping at your favorite store or playing a game on an online casino like casinofy.com. It seems like every business that is operating online today, no matter what niche, understands the importance of providing their customers an option to make the payment online.
As much as online payments are convenient, quick, and hassle-free, they are associated with some risk. As the graph of popularity has risen, the threat has also elevated, as more individuals try to scam your money or steal your personal or credit card details.
According to research from the year, 2016 carried out by Jupiter, up to 70% of credit card frauds are completed because of the card, not present (CNP) transactions.
A countless number of people are subjected to online frauds and thefts, therefore some measures should be taken by a consumer.
To help you enjoy safer transactions online, we have listed down some tips that will help you make secure and safe payments.
Use Smart Passwords
The first and foremost thing while setting a bank account or any social media account is to make sure your password is strong enough. You should always use a hard-to-guess password. Moreover, you should make it a practice to add an upper case or lower case letters and incorporate numbers and symbols, etc. Don’t make use of birth date or address as your passwords, that can be guessed easily.
Other tips related to passwords that will help you stay safe online include:
- Never use the identical secret code for all of your accounts. Keep them updating now and then. Enable two-step authentication on your account, if offered.
- Don’t dole out your username or PIN with any person. Internet providers, banks, credit cards, and reliable internet businesses never ask a user about private information.
- Never click on the links, inquiring about user information. Leave a report to the concerned authorities.
Use An Anti-Malware Program
An anti-malware operates to protect computers from spyware, adware, and worms. It works to keep the private information safe and scans all the software for all types of detrimental software that managed to come into your computer.
The key points related to it are:
- Ensure the software is updated, and auto-updated is on.
- Make sure the software can detect any off beam threats even before included in the database of automatic updates.
Use Paypal To Make Online Payments
PayPal account functions as a third-party app for secure online payments and dispute resolution services. It gives buyer security in case there is a payment dispute.
If PayPal is not available in your region or the website doesn’t offer an option, try to shop from a retailer that offers cash on delivery, which is the safest option to save yourself from scams.
Deal With Sound Websites Only
Before you enter any information, consider the following points, and make sure the app or retail website is secure. Once you are sure that the website is reliable, only then proceed to make an online payment. Some ways in which you check the reliability and authenticity of a website are listed below:
- A small padlock symbol appears on the URL strip at the top of the webpage, which gives a picture of that the site is secure or not. It also indicates that all the data entered is safeguarded by TLS (Transport Layer Security). You can also click on the padlock symbol and view site information.
- Check to see if the address begins from “https” rather than “http” because the letter “s” stands for secure.
- For mobile applications, look at customer reviews. If it is a well-known brand, it must come up with hundreds of comments.
- Browsers turn green if something suspicious is detected.
Avoid The Use Of Public Computer Or Wi-Fi
Most web browsers keep the passwords and user information safe, and thus the data can be accessed even if the computer gets shut down. The points that you should keep in mind are:
- Try not to use a public computer or Wi-Fi network, as these computers can be easily manipulated by tweaking its hardware or software. Even ordinary mobile data is fortified than public Wi-Fi.
- In case you have used a public computer, never click the “remember me” button. Make sure you have signed off from shopping sites, email account, and social media handles.
Not taking care of the above-mentioned things can give any scammer an opportunity to use your credit card details for theft or for any illegal activities online.
Always Use A Credit Card
The usage of credit card is often advised, because of the reason that debit card is directly associated with your bank account. With spending limits, credit cards cannot be exploited to an extent a debit card can be. It is quite easy to dispute fraudulent charges on a credit card rather than comparing money recovery on a debit card.
Verify Every Transaction
Every transaction that you make online should be verified before being processed. Try to review each transfer done. If you spot a payment not done by you, reach out to your bank instantly.
Most of the people take it lightly and often ignore if the payment completed is in less amount. Never ignore such signs and take the measures accordingly.
Educate Yourself
People don’t take note of these things, until and unless they find themselves in trouble. Educate yourself first with these basic things, and then convey it to your surroundings.
Many people suffered the consequences because of the reason that they were ignorant. Try not to depend on others on these matters.
Final Word
Internet scam is on a historic high these days. Online payment comes with benefits and risks. There are many reasons why you should be vigilant while making payments online. If you suspect any type of fraud, you can always take measures against it. But, won’t it be better to take preventive measures first? A better understanding and adopting simple online security habits is a keynote in becoming more irrepressible against cyber threats.
