Ensure your online shopping experience is as safe and smooth as possible.
These days, more people are doing the bulk of their shopping online, and that can put your payment information at risk. Knowing how to shop safely can help keep you protected every time you make a purchase.
Know the basics
Before you even think about filling out a form with your payment information, you need to know a few important things about shopping online. Priority one is to make sure you’re using a private device, such as a laptop, tablet, or smartphone, that you own or trust. Unless absolutely necessary, avoid making purchases on public computers. Not only can they store your information, but you also can’t be sure they are free from spyware and viruses, unlike your well-maintained personal devices.
Avoid entering payment information while using public Wi-Fi or unsecure sites (secure sites start with HTTPS). Rather than using public Wi-Fi, consider using your mobile data connection or a trusted VPN for added protection. Public networks can expose personal information if your device, browser, or the website is not properly secured.
The merchants you shop with are just as important as your device and connection. If you’re buying from a less reputable or lesser-known website, do some legwork to see whether customer reviews are available and whether the business appears to be legitimate.
You should also avoid navigating to merchant websites through hyperlinks on social media or in emails. Instead, navigate directly to the website through your browser. While you’re there, be sure the website is certified safe by looking for the lock symbol in the URL bar.
Use a safe payment method
Some shoppers prefer not to use credit cards for purchases to avoid overspending and racking up interest. But if you do a lot of shopping online, a credit card is a better choice than paying with debit.
Credit cards are often one of the easiest and most secure payment methods for online shopping. If a fraudster gets a hold of your credit card information and makes a fraudulent purchase, credit cards usually offer stronger consumer protections than debit cards. The fraudulent transaction generally affects the card issuer's funds rather than the money in your deposit account, and card issuers often have greater ability to recover or absorb fraud-related losses. Even when that protection does not apply, federal law generally limits your liability for unauthorized credit card purchases.
On the flip side, if you use debit cards, your financial institution may offer protection against fraud only if you report suspicious activity within a short window. Because your debit card is linked to an account containing actual money, you could also be responsible for overdraft and account maintenance fees.
Your card providers may also offer handy tools to help protect you against fraudulent use. This can include multi-factor authentication, which may alert you to scammers attempting to use your card by sending a confirmation code to your text or email. Card providers may also let you set up alerts any time a purchase is made with your card when the physical card is not present.
If you make purchases online, you may be given the option to store your credit card information for future purchases. Avoid doing this unless you feel confident with the safety and security of a merchant and also be aware that data breaches can put this information at risk. If you choose to store credit card information, be cognizant of where that information is kept.
Stay on top of your financial information and take proactive steps to keep your money and identity safe. For more tips on how to keep your information secure, visit our Five Star Bank Security Center.
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