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

Jeremy Zongker asked:




Nowadays, shopping online is a very common thing. Making your purchases without leaving your house is an attractive option for many of us. Purchasing items over the internet using your credit card can be quite an unpleasant experience if you don’t make sure your payments are safe. Although many people consider that using a credit card for online transactions is not safe, they continue using this method but with increased caution measures. The greatest risk we expose ourselves to when shopping online is identity theft. But this is not the only risk, and various studies reveal that people have also other concerns like: personal information will be sold to third parties, unauthorized recurring transactions, not receiving the ordered products or even higher prices than advertised prices.

Many people think that shopping online is risky, but the risk is not greater than others. Taking few precaution measures is the best thing to do unless you want to quite shopping online. First of all, we should not shop from unknown websites. Always look for the companies you know or ask someone to recommend you a site or a company that he/she uses. Still, if you’re not sure of the vendor’s identity try to find his address and phone number and check them. Also check the refund and return policies of the company in case they don’t ship you the right products or you’re not satisfied with their quality. Another thing to be careful about is the browser that you’re using, it has to be a secured browser. A secured browser should include Secure Sockets Layer that scramble the information you are sending over the internet, making the transaction more secure. You can easily recognize a secured web site, because when you’re filling in online orders or applications a closed padlock sign should appear at the bottom of the screen. Another way to make sure that the web site is secure is to check the URL; if it begins with “https” it means the transaction is secure because the “s” stands for secure.

Another important thing to be careful about is your privacy. The information you’re submitting when you use your credit card online should be kept private by the company that receives it, meaning it should not be passed on or sold to third parties unless you agree. Most web sites ask for your permission to use personal details for direct marketing, and if you feel uncomfortable giving them permission you must know you have the right to object. Anyway, before submitting any personal details you should check the privacy policy of an website; if there are things not clear to you give them a call and see if your understanding is correct or not. Do not submit any information, unless you’re absolutely sure that your credit card details are safe.

Being able to safely use credit cards for online purchases is not only the buyer’s responsibility. The vendor has also his part of responsibility in ensuring safe purchases for his clients. Vendors also suffer from credit card frauds. They have to take some security measures in order for them and their customers to be protected against online credit card frauds. Security and privacy are two important aspects a vendor should take into consideration. He must ensure the client that the personal information submitted are kept private and at the same time he must check the details received to make sure that he’s dealing with the real cardholder.

It is a well known fact that online credit card transactions are risky, because your personal information are exposed and can be stolen by others with the intention of using them to commit frauds. Yet, if the buyers are careful to whom they relies these information and the vendors are cautious from whom they receive credit card information, the risks of online credit card frauds decreases significantly. When disclosing personal information, common sense should exist.

Dale

Ed Vegliante asked:


In today’s world, you can manage almost every aspect of your credit cards online. While it is convenient to shop and pay bills over the Internet, you may be concerned about the security risks involved. The good news is that you can reduce your risks by taking preventative action. Follow these tips to make sure your online credit card management is safe.

Applying Online

Many websites allow you to apply online for a credit card. If you’re concerned about sending personal information into cyberspace, chances are you need not worry. In most cases, online applications are just as safe, if not safer, than sending forms through the regular mail system. When you drop an application in the mailbox, your personal information is exposed to numerous potential scammers. The process may take four to six weeks to complete, thereby creating more possibilities for others to see your data. If you send an application through an online connection, however, it will arrive in less than a second to the secured source. When applying online, first check that the site is secure and legitimate; then fill out the application.

Shopping Online

Before purchasing an item online, take a few measures to check for security. First, make sure that the company is legitimate. If you are in doubt, you can check with the Better Business Bureau. Next, look for security features on the site. If the payment page has the letter “s” after its “http” code (https:), it is protected with SSL, or Secure Sockets Layer. This applies encryption between your computer system and the company’s Internet server. When your data is transmitted over the Internet, it is encrypted, or scrambled, when it is sent. It is then unscrambled when it reaches its destination. Another safety feature to look for is a small padlock on the screen. Finally, make sure you feel comfortable providing your information. If something on the site concerns you, check into it before paying with your credit card.

Online Statements and Billing

Almost all credit card companies allow you to sign up for online access to your credit card account. When you do, make sure that the site has secure features. Be careful not to use a login name or password that contains obvious personal information, such as your name or date of birth. Check your card activity and online statements regularly for signs of transactions that you did not authorize.

Phishing

By far, phishing is one of the most dangerous fraudulent activities online. In phishing, scammers send e-mails that appear to be from legitimate companies. They often ask you to respond with personal information to confirm an account or win a prize. Be sure to check your e-mail carefully. A credit card company will never ask you to send personal information, such as your social security number, to them via e-mail. If you receive a questionable e-mail, do not respond to it or open any attachments it contains. Rather, report it to the credit card company or a credit bureau for inspection.

Like other security issues, online credit card management can be safe if proper measures are taken. Check sites for security features, look into online companies before making purchases, and avoid responding to questionable e-mails. By following these steps, you can enjoy the ease of online credit card management without the headache of credit card fraud.



NATHAN

Anne asked:


Very often you can hear the statement that applying online for a credit card is safe and fast. At the same time, it is common knowledge that cases of online identity theft are frequent enough to make people be afraid of it. Is it really dangerous to order plastics via Internet? Let us see how matters stand.

There are a wide range of web-sources where consumers can make an online credit card application: Credit-Land.com, RequestCredit.com and many other sites are known to provide assistance in credit card selection and quick redirection to the bank’s official site. Credit card companies spend a lot of money on products promotion as well as providing credit card application security. Banks want to make people order cards via Internet. The reason is that it minimizes the cost of application processing: there are no extra personnel needed, as well as no expenditures on paper application forms. The information you submit goes straight to the bank’s database; that is why both the applicant and the creditor save a good deal of time.

To protect the personal and financial information you enter on the application page, SSL (secure sockets layer) protocol is used. It implies that the information is twice encrypted: when being submitted in the sending computer and being accepted by the receiving computer. This encryption method guarantees that your information will never be stolen if you submit it through the SSL protected web sites.

However, not every site is supplied with SSL protocol. There are some details to consider if you want to make a really secure online application.

1) The web page is stated to be secure or there is a name of SSL Certificate provider (Verisign, for example)

2) URL of a protected web-page usually begins with https:// (regular pages start with http://)

3) You can see a small lock in the right bottom corner of the screen

4) They ask you to register on a secure site

If you notice some or all of these features on a web site, you can be 100% your information is protected. So, you can choose the bank product for your credit situation and needs and indicate your personal information like address, annual income, social security number etc in the application form provided.

In case you do not see any of the above mentioned signs of security, or the site just seems shady, leave it and go to a reliable web source. One should also be careful with credit card offers coming by e-mail. E-mail is very vulnerable, and there is a great possibility that you will receive malicious mail (become a victim of phishing). Plus, it is required that you should have your computer protected with anti-virus programs.



DALE

Adam Goldman asked:


Credit cards, the Internet and online services all pave the path towards a new era of technological advancements and commercialised lifestyles. Nowadays, you won’t have to fly halfway around the world or drive across town to purchase authentic gifts for a loved one. Instead, you can just order it online at home. Your gift will be wrapped and delivered right to your door step. All you need is a secure connection, a working credit card account and a little understanding of how to manage an online account.

In fact, if you find it hard to keep your bills in order or can’t find the time to drop in at the bank, then having an online credit card account is the best way to solve your problems. With this, you can actually manage all your finances without you ever leaving your office, or even your desk. You can make instant payments on the spot, check past transactions easily and immediately print statements that would regularly take weeks to get to your mailbox.

With all this convenience, anyone is bound to worry about the security of having an online credit card account. If you are able to access your account with your name, ID or a simple password, it is possible for a thief who has the right combination of these elements to access to your account. Thus, it is important that you do not give out your personal information to strangers or even callers over the phone.

Also, before you enter any sensitive information on your browser, ensure that your browser is a secured browser that utilizes Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) that encrypts data before transmitting it to the server. Most banking websites utilize secured web pages indicated by a locked padlock sign at the bottom of the browser. Naturally, credit card users are advised to not make financial transactions over public computers. Online access can be a godsend to most of us who lead a busy lifestyle but if we are not careful, we may lose our finances and property to thieving scoundrels at the click of a mouse.



DUSTY