Using your plastic online : Credit Card Guide

Using your plastic online

The Internet has become an integral part of our business and personal lives, and with the majority of households in the UK now hooked up to the Internet it is little wonder that online shopping has become so popular.

With a credit or debit card, a computer, and an Internet connection it is possible to purchase goods from all around the world without even leaving your home. Of course, it is also possible to order goods locally, and people use the Internet to purchase everything from their weekly groceries from Sainsbury's to a luxury holiday or an array of items from far flung destinations.

The Internet makes shopping easy and convenient, no matter what you are looking to purchase. You can enjoy incredible choice, great value for money, and access to products that you simply wouldn't be able to find locally. Millions of consumers order goods online, from entertainment and tickets to food, drink, clothes, gadgets, and more. Increased security measures and higher levels of consumer confidence when it comes to online transactions has seen this method of shopping rocket in terms of popularity over recent years.

However, although online shopping can be very convenient and simple it is also essential that you ensure the security of your account details when using your credit or debit card to make transactions. Without doing this you could risk becoming the victim of card fraud. Card not present fraud, which means transactions where the card is not physically required to make a purchase – such as online purchases – has been rising over recent years, and there are a few simple measures that you can take to reduce the risks of fraud, enabling you to enjoy the pleasures of shopping online with your card.

Always ensure that you are using a secure site to make your purchase. Most reputable websites are very security conscious and will make it quite clear on the site that they use encrypted software to ensure the security of your details. Look out for the secure website sign in the form of a padlock illustration on the site.

Always access sites via your search engine and not via an email. It is not worth risking your security by accessing a site via an email, as this could be part of a phishing scam, where fraudsters place a link that takes you to a fake website, from where they can obtain your card details.

Never save your account details on a shared computer. If you shop at a particular site regularly it may be tempting to save your account and password details, but you should avoid doing this if the computer is shared, as this puts you at greater risk of becoming a victim of card fraud.

Check to see whether you are covered for online fraud. Sometimes, no matter what sort of precautions you take, you may find that you are targeted by fraudsters. If you make regular online transactions check and see whether your card provider covers you against online fraud, as this can provide greater peace of mind when using the Internet to make purchases with your credit or debit card.

Being extra careful when making Internet purchases with your cards can really pay off in the long run, as it means that you won’t have to risk your security and your finances yet you can still enjoy the thrills of purchasing items from all around the world from the safety and comfort of your own home.

Tom Smith
1st November 2007

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