Online Payments - Get Safe Online (2024)

The risks

  • Fraud resulting from making payments over unsecured web pages.
  • emails directing you to fake websites set up to collect your payment card details.

Safe payments

Online payments are normally part of your arrangement with a service provider as an alternative to payment by Direct Debit or cheque. In most cases, therefore, the payee will be familiar to you, but you must take care to ensure that you are on the provider’s genuine site.

  • Remember that paying by credit card offers greater protection against fraud than with other methods.
  • Double check all details of your payment before confirming. Before entering payment card details on a website, ensure that the link is secure, in two ways:
    • There should be a padlock symbol in the browser window frame, which appears when you attempt to log in or register. Be sure that the padlock is not on the page itself … this will probably indicate a fraudulent site.
    • The web address should begin with ‘https://’. The ‘s’ stands for ‘secure’.
  • The above indicate only that the link between you and the website owner is secure, and not that the site itself is authentic. You need to do this by carefully checking the address for subtle misspellings, additional words and characters and other irregularities.
  • When making a payment or transferring money via money transfer, pay the recipient a small amount such as £1 first, then check if the recipient has received it prior to sending the larger amount. This ensures that the account details are correct and you are not transferring the money to the wrong account. Also, it protects you if your email has been hacked and you have received the wrong payment details. (There have been a number of incidents where people’s email has been compromised and on seeing a payment request, the criminal has intercepted the email and replaced it with one containing their own bank details).
  • Check the website’s privacy policy.
  • Always log out of sites into which you have logged in or registered details. Simply closing your browser is not enough to ensure privacy.
  • Keep receipts – electronic or otherwise.
  • Check credit card and bank statements carefully after payment to ensure that the correct amount has been debited, and also that no fraud has taken place as a result of the transaction.
  • Ensure you have effective and updated antivirus/antispyware software and firewall running before you go online.

More information

If you think you have been a victim of fraud: Report it to Action Fraud, the UK’s national fraud reporting centre by calling 0300 123 20 40 or by visitingwww.actionfraud.police.uk.If you are in Scotland, contact Police Scotland on 101.

If you’ve experienced cybercrime, you can contact the charity Victim Support for free and confidential support and information.

Online Payments - Get Safe Online (2024)

FAQs

What is the safest online payment method? ›

These are the safest payment methods
  • Credit cards. Credit cards remain one of the safest options for online purchases. ...
  • PayPal. For peer-to-peer transactions or when shopping on sites that accept it, PayPal is a wise choice. ...
  • Apple Pay/Google Pay. ...
  • Gift cards.
Oct 18, 2023

How do you ensure safety in online payments? ›

10 best practices for secure online payment processing
  1. Understand your PCI compliance requirements. ...
  2. Encrypt data with TLS. ...
  3. Implement 3D Secure 2. ...
  4. Multi- or Two-Factor Authentication. ...
  5. Require Card Verification Value (CVV) ...
  6. Use payment tokenization. ...
  7. Ensure your website platform is secure. ...
  8. Implement a fraud detection tool.
Aug 25, 2023

Is it safe to do online payments? ›

The safest payment type varies depending on the context, but direct debit, credit cards, and payment apps are generally considered safe. Direct debit is a secure method allowing customers to set up recurring or one-off card payments. Credit cards have robust security features, including fraud monitoring and encryption.

How to know if online payment is safe? ›

Check for "https" and a padlock in the website's address bar. Opt for secure payment options and stick to reputable sites. Avoid sketchy platforms, and always be cautious about where you input your details. Stay vigilant, especially with the rising concerns around Credit Card Dumps With PIN.

What is the best payment method to not get scammed? ›

Secure online payment methods
  • Credit cards. By and large, credit cards are easily the most secure and safe payment method to use when you shop online. ...
  • ACH payments. ...
  • Stored payment credentials. ...
  • Credit cards with EMV chip technology. ...
  • Credit cards with contactless payment. ...
  • Payment apps.
Feb 11, 2023

What is the most secure online payment app? ›

Our Top 7 Picks
  • Google Pay. Best for Android Users. Jump To Details. ...
  • Cash App. Best for Buying Stocks and Bitcoin. ...
  • PayPal. Best for Shopping Online. ...
  • Zelle. Best for Instant Bank-to-Bank Transfers. ...
  • Apple Pay. Best for Purchases iOS and Mac Users. ...
  • Samsung Pay. Best for Contactless in-Store Purchases. ...
  • Venmo. Best for Paying Friends.

Is it safer to pay with PayPal or bank transfer? ›

Both are absolutely safe. In most cases, payment with with PayPal is even safer because it can be disputed and reversed, which is not possible with a bank transfer.

Can the bank see who used my card online? ›

Can You Track Someone Who Used Your Credit Card Online? No. However, if you report the fraud in a timely manner, the bank or card issuer will open an investigation. Banks have a system for investigating credit card fraud, including some standard procedures.

What is the safest way to receive payment when selling online? ›

Choose a well-known payment service provider to process credit card and ACH payments to ensure your (and your customers') financial information stays secure. Look for providers that use security measures like encryption and multi-factor authentication to prevent theft and fraud.

Which is safer, an ACH or a debit card? ›

A: Both credit cards and ACH transactions face security risks, ACH payments are generally considered safer. ACH transactions have a lengthy authorization process and banks have fraud detection measures in place, so these payments are less likely to go through unauthorized.

Is it safer to pay bills online or by phone? ›

It's generally safer to use your bank's online bill pay because you have more control over the payment process. You set the amount and date of payment rather than allowing the service provider to take the money from your bank account on their terms.

Is there any risk in online payment? ›

Payment risk refers to the potential of losses due to a contract default or other payment event such as fraud, security breaches or chargebacks. Companies regularly handling a high volume of online payments are subject to such risks.

How do I ensure safe online payments? ›

Online payment security tips
  1. Use two-factor authentication. ...
  2. Verify every transaction. ...
  3. Choose a secure e-commerce platform and payment provider. ...
  4. Buy cyber liability insurance. ...
  5. Use a personal verification system. ...
  6. Don't store customer payment data. ...
  7. Get an SSL certificate for your site. ...
  8. Ensure PCI compliance.

Can online payments be tracked? ›

The authorities typically track fraudulent credit card transactions by: Checking transaction timestamp and IP address. Using geolocation tracking. Investigating the buyer's data and further account activity.

How can I tell if my online transaction is secure? ›

A secure connection is your first defense line in online payment security. How can you verify this? Look for HTTPS and a padlock icon in the URL to ensure a secure connection. This will help protect your personal information from potential threats.

What is the safest way to pay for services online? ›

Generally, these are the best methods for secure online payments:
  1. PayPal. Safe and secure.
  2. Credit card. Well protected against fraudulent transactions.
  3. Debit card. Great for controlling your spending.
  4. Prepaid card. Provides a certain level of privacy.
  5. Digital wallets. ...
  6. Mobile payment apps. ...
  7. Cryptocurrencies.
Jul 6, 2023

Is it safer to use PayPal or credit card? ›

If you're still wondering whether PayPal is safer than a credit card, you should know that both payment methods come with similar security protections and features, though PayPal may have the slight edge with its built-in purchase protections (which may not be available on specific credit cards).

Is PayPal the safest way to pay online? ›

PayPal has a strong reputation as a safe and secure online payment system. The platform uses the highest security measures possible, including end-to-end encryption, to protect all transactions.

Which payment system is most secure? ›

1. Credit cards. The most familiar form of online payment is also one of the most secure payment methods. Credit card transactions are encrypted, which means the details are jumbled up and encoded.

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