James B Thompson asked:




We so often hear in the media about online fraud, that there is no wonder we think twice about using our credit cards on the web. Rightly so – there are things you should know before you purchase online. Following a few safety guidelines will put you in better standing against credit card crime and let you enjoy the pleasures of shopping over the internet, just how it should be.

1. Do some background checks on the company you wish to buy from. It is highly likely that companies you have a good knowledge of and have an overall respected status within society, will be safe to carry out transactions. If you are aware of their postal address or phone number, this will clarify their existence. Take a moment to read the privacy and security policies. If you are a bargain hunter (who isn’t?), various sites may offer differing prices, but it would be a safer bet to go with the most trustworthy company.

2. When shopping online, check the security status of the page you are visiting. There are icons which determine whether its secure or not. This is apparent by a ‘closed lock’ symbol in Internet Explorer and Firefox and an ‘unbroken key’ in Netscape. You will usually find it next to the browser bar.

3. Another thing you should check is the protocol ‘HTTP://’ in the address bar. This should change to ‘HTTPS://’, notice the inclusion of the letter ‘S’ – this simply stands for ‘secure’.

4. Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) was created to encrypt any data that might be tracked by other computers or routers. This basically means that when you send information out during a purchase, it cannot easily be read or picked up by hackers and the like. The aforementioned icons and ‘HTTPS://’ are evidence that the site is certificated with SSL. If you don’t see one of the icons or a change in the URL, it would be better to avoid at all costs.

5. Once a transaction has taken place, there should appear some identification, in the form of a order number or invoice number. Also a message to say that the transfer was carried out successfully. It would be good practice to print off these details until you are 100% the transaction was fulfilled and no problems occurred. Most online companies will forward confirmation via email, if not you are in your rights to request one.

6. Keep an eye on your credit card statements, taking any necessary action if you believe there are transactions that you yourself did not execute.

7. Never reveal your credit card information in an email, nor should you use it to give proof of your identity.

8. Your ATM pin code should not be given over the internet. This number is solely for use at cash machines and is not required for online purchases.

If you are still concerned, apply for a credit card with a low credit. This way if something did happen to go wrong, it will never run into the thousands or millions!

Danielle

C.R. Hayes asked:


Many times when you choose to fill out an application on the internet, online credit card approval can be done instantly. You are asked to give the same information as you would on a paper application that comes in your postal mail box. But rather than wait for the mail delivery and processing time, some people are more anxious to receive notification instantly.

Card issuers use the latest high-tech secure programming and fraud protection to protect the data you enter. So there is no need to worry about just where your financial information will end up. Make sure though, that the web address in your browser bar begins with ‘https’, which signifies a secure internet connection.

One of the biggest advantages of searching and applying online is that you can do side by side comparisons for different bankcards offered by different providers. You can also narrow them by the category you need, such as:



0 interest

bad credit

travel rewards

those for college students

cash back cards

and more



When you get your choices narrowed down, you need to compare all of the fees associated, like:



annual fee

APR

interest rate

late fees

any other cost that may apply



You will want to know how long any promotional rates will last too, if applicable. It’s not uncommon to find that 0 interest rates can apply up to the first 6 to 18 months of your account.

If you are more inclined to opt for travel rewards or cash back features, make sure you get the most benefits and perks you can while still keeping your fees and interest rate as low as possible.

Before you apply, it would be a good idea to get a copy of your latest credit report and know your credit rating. After all, issuers base your acceptance according to your credit score. The higher your score, the better deal you will be offered and approved for.

Everyone in the U.S. is allowed one free copy of their credit report every 12 months. The Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) requires this of each of the nationwide consumer reporting companies — Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion. You can order yours by phone by calling 1-877-322-8228, or by visiting annualcreditreport.com.

Online credit card approval can be both instant and convenient for the application and approval process, but you will usually have to wait for the actual card to arrive in your mailbox before you can use it. Nevertheless, you will still receive it sooner than if the entire process was done through the mail.



ISRAEL