As there are more and more online services and shops there is an increasing need for secure payment methods on the internet. The modern and popular online casinos set a good example here. When a customer pays in the casino with Paysafecard, he does not have to enter any personal data from his account or credit card.
However, the possibility to use a Paysafecard is unfortunately not available in most online shops. Therefore, here are five tips on how to ensure more security online in other cases as well.
Only buy from reputable suppliers
Thousands of online shops offer their goods for sale on the internet. How should the customer distinguish whether it is a serious or dubious provider? There are some criteria that make this possible.
Imprint
A reputable shop always has an imprint. This must include the name, address, telephone number, tax number and registration number. An online shop without contact options or
with a post office box as the address should be avoided. This is not clear evidence of fraud, but it is a strong indication.
Reviews
Before using a new online shop, it is worth looking for reviews. What do other customers say? Have there already been problems with shipping, or are the reviews consistently good? If the shop name is entered into the search engine, there are often relevant results. Unfortunately, there are also fake reviews, but they can be recognized.
Price
A bargain price is always a reason to rejoice. However, if a shop offers goods significantly cheaper than the competition, caution is advised. Every trader must also be able to show a profit. Dumping offers are typically an indication that fraud is possible here.
General terms and conditions
A look at the general terms and conditions provides clarity. If you find incomprehensible clauses or if it is not possible to return an order, hands off! Customers who simply accept the general terms and conditions must accept restrictions.
Never pay in advance
The payment method prepayment is not a clear indication that it is a fraudulent shop. However, this payment method always offers an increased risk of fraud. The goods are already paid for by bank transfer before they have even been shipped. Fraudulent shops do not even send out the ordered product after payment.
But there can also be trouble in reputable online shops. For example, if the goods do not arrive or are damaged, it often takes a long time for the money to be refunded! People are sometimes offered the payment in advance option if their credit rating is not good enough for payment on account. Here, too, there are alternatives.
Among other things, payment can be made via PayPal. The advantage of this is that the buyer protection protects the buyer. If the goods do not arrive, the money can be retrieved. This is not the case with a classic bank transfer.
Encrypt and secure personal data and passwords
The number combination 1,2,3,4,5 is still one of the most popular passwords worldwide. But this is not recommended. When it comes to encrypting payment data, negligence is a big problem. On the one hand, merchants are responsible for encrypting personal data, but on the other hand, customers themselves are responsible as well.
The merchant encrypts his website and thus ensures that sensitive and personal data cannot be spied out. This can be seen by looking at the browser bar. If the string https:// can be read here instead of http://, the site is secure.
However, the retailer cannot accept any liability for insecure passwords; this is the customer’s responsibility. Under no circumstances should the password be too easy to guess or contain parts of your name. It is also advisable to use a different password for each payment service provider.
The 2-way authentication additionally secures transactions. For example, to authorize a payment via PayPal, the customer must enter a code. This is provided to him either in the PayPal app or by SMS/call. The PayPal app can be unlocked with the biometric data so that no one can access it.
Do not trigger payments via public networks
Public Wi-Fi is available in more and more places. What could be more natural than using the Wi-Fi network to buy new clothes when travelling by train? However, this is not safe because hackers have an easy time in public networks. Even if surfing in public Wi-Fi is part of today’s lifestyle, no one should enter their online banking data without protection, nor should they initiate payments.
The use of a VPN offers more security. The security network encrypts one’s own data and identity. This makes it possible to make secure payments in open Wi-Fi networks.
Choose a secure payment method
Even when deciding on the right payment method, caution is advisable. There are good and unsafe methods. A small overview of the recommended payment methods follows now.
● Payment on account: The customer is on the safe side with an invoice. After the goods have arrived and been checked, the invoice amount is transferred. However, this method is not convenient because if the transfer is forgotten, there will quickly be trouble.
● Payment by cash on delivery: A secure payment method is payment by cash on delivery. The invoice amount is paid directly to the postman. The disadvantage of this method is that the package cannot be checked directly. Payment is therefore made before the goods have been inspected. Complaints are difficult to make.
● Credit card payment: Credit cards are still an important means of payment on the internet. After entering the data, payment can be initiated directly, even abroad. Significant: The data must be transmitted in encrypted form to prevent hackers from accessing the data.
● Payment via third-party providers: Payment service providers such as PayPal, Skrill and others are becoming increasingly popular. They can be used to make secure payments without having to provide the merchant with personal credit card or bank account details. Here, too, password protection is the top priority. If a hacker gains access to the PayPal account, he can make unauthorized payments.
Conclusion
The number of online purchases is increasing worldwide. E-commerce is the model of the future and secure payment methods are the be-all and end-all. To make online business as secure as possible, shop operators and customers must work together. It is the buyer’s task to protect his personal data and not to pass it on to third parties.
The seller’s task is to ensure that data is encrypted and protected when it is transferred. With reputable online shops, this is a matter of course and payment is possible without any problems
