Enter your details " avoid the hazards of Internet transactions
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?
Surprisingly enough, safer than you think. Despite the headlines of credit card scams and identity theft, it is actually quite safe to use a credit card to make purchases online as long as you follow a few basic guidelines and exercise a little caution. There are plenty of precautions you can take to protect yourself against the scammers and even genuine companies that go out of business before you receive your goods or services after paying online with a credit card. Even some of the biggest companies are at risk, as clearly shown by the collapse of Britains third largest tour operator, XL Leisure, last year. So before you type your details in and press enter, there are a few steps to take first to protect your details.
Firstly, and probably most surprising, is the advice to always use a credit card rather than a debit card. Section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act 1974 states that if something does go wrong with a credit transaction the credit card company is jointly and severally liable with the retailer for the costs. This covers transactions of between 100 and 30,000, so most medium to large transactions are safe. If the company you are buying from goes out of business before you receive your goods, you can claim the money back from your card provider. A recent court ruling has also confirmed that these regulations also cover purchases made from overseas companies " giving online shoppers a little more peace of mind. However, the regulations may not apply if you make a purchase through a PayPal account or other similar payment system. Debit card transactions do not have the same kind of cover either, and are more at risk in the event of a problem.
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 itself before (and after) buying online. If you do not have up-to-date anti-virus software and a firewall installed then your computer is vulnerable to spyware, which can lift your details from your computer by counting the keystrokes when installing passwords or sensitive financial information. If an email asks you to confirm your details by clicking on a link, there is a very high probability that it is a phishing email, designed to part the unwary from their details. The first you will know about it is when your bank account or credit card is magically emptied, so never give your details out. Your bank will not ask you to confirm details except by direct contact, so any email (even if it appears to come from your provider) that does ask for this information is a scam. It goes without saying that all passwords should be kept secure, but dont make the common mistake of having the same password for all your Internet functions. Once that password becomes common knowledge, your entire system (including your credit card details) are vulnerable.
When making any credit card transaction online, look for two indicators on your computer that tell you the site is secure. The first is the inclusion of the letter s in the URL address (a secure site will start with the URL address code https) and the second is a small padlock icon in the browser frame of your screen. If either of these are missing it means that the site is unsecured and your details are vulnerable. Finally, check that the company you are buying from has a real-time address and not just a cyber-address. By following these few guidelines and being aware that there are (easily avoidable) risks to online purchasing, your credit card details should remain safe and secure.
Surprisingly enough, safer than you think. Despite the headlines of credit card scams and identity theft, it is actually quite safe to use a credit card to make purchases online as long as you follow a few basic guidelines and exercise a little caution. There are plenty of precautions you can take to protect yourself against the scammers and even genuine companies that go out of business before you receive your goods or services after paying online with a credit card. Even some of the biggest companies are at risk, as clearly shown by the collapse of Britains third largest tour operator, XL Leisure, last year. So before you type your details in and press enter, there are a few steps to take first to protect your details.
Firstly, and probably most surprising, is the advice to always use a credit card rather than a debit card. Section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act 1974 states that if something does go wrong with a credit transaction the credit card company is jointly and severally liable with the retailer for the costs. This covers transactions of between 100 and 30,000, so most medium to large transactions are safe. If the company you are buying from goes out of business before you receive your goods, you can claim the money back from your card provider. A recent court ruling has also confirmed that these regulations also cover purchases made from overseas companies " giving online shoppers a little more peace of mind. However, the regulations may not apply if you make a purchase through a PayPal account or other similar payment system. Debit card transactions do not have the same kind of cover either, and are more at risk in the event of a problem.
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 itself before (and after) buying online. If you do not have up-to-date anti-virus software and a firewall installed then your computer is vulnerable to spyware, which can lift your details from your computer by counting the keystrokes when installing passwords or sensitive financial information. If an email asks you to confirm your details by clicking on a link, there is a very high probability that it is a phishing email, designed to part the unwary from their details. The first you will know about it is when your bank account or credit card is magically emptied, so never give your details out. Your bank will not ask you to confirm details except by direct contact, so any email (even if it appears to come from your provider) that does ask for this information is a scam. It goes without saying that all passwords should be kept secure, but dont make the common mistake of having the same password for all your Internet functions. Once that password becomes common knowledge, your entire system (including your credit card details) are vulnerable.
When making any credit card transaction online, look for two indicators on your computer that tell you the site is secure. The first is the inclusion of the letter s in the URL address (a secure site will start with the URL address code https) and the second is a small padlock icon in the browser frame of your screen. If either of these are missing it means that the site is unsecured and your details are vulnerable. Finally, check that the company you are buying from has a real-time address and not just a cyber-address. By following these few guidelines and being aware that there are (easily avoidable) risks to online purchasing, your credit card details should remain safe and secure.
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.
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