These days anything can be done online. You can apply for a job, get a date, research a new car, or even apply for a credit card online. You can also manage your accounts online as well. These days everyone is paying bills, making online purchases and even managing financial accounts such as bank accounts, stock trading account as well as charge card accounts. There are those that feel that all this online information puts them at risk for identity theft. Using a credit card online is also considered risky behavior for some. For the most part, people should be rest assured that online transactions are safe these days. However, there is nothing like taking some precautions in order to avoid any problems. Read through this article and learn how to use your card safely online.
Online credit card applications always require information that identifies you in order to determine to process the transaction securely. Information is typically sent back and forth between computers. There is a technology that exists today that encrypts packets of information before they leave your computer. This information is then received on the other end by the server and is re translated back to the non encrypted version. Before making any online purchase, be sure that the URL contains "https" and not just "http". A website being hosted on a server with the URL "https" is being hosted on a secure server that uses encryption technology in order to keep your private information safe. It is actually safer to fill out an online credit cards application than filling one out and sending it in the mail. There are more hands that will handle your regular mail that can steel your information as it goes from your mail box to its destination. Any one of these people, including postal employees, who have had access to the mail can steal information very easily.
Every card provider these days give you online account access so that you can see your account information such as spending history, payment history, as well as the ability to make payments or even report a lost or stolen card. Many times transactions are posted in real time. In other words, you do not have to wait for a computer to finish processing information before it posts your expenditure 3 days later. These days, your spending information is always up to the minute. There are many account management online systems that will even alert you through text messages or email that an expense was made using your credit card. You can set it for any amount or you can even request that you receive notification on expenditures that exceed certain amounts
Another way to shop safely online is to shop from websites that have seals of endorsement from the better business bureau or who display that they are using SSL encrypted technology. Another thing to look for is the payment processor PayPal. PayPal offers both consumers and merchants a safe way to shop online. PayPal is owned by eBay and has a reputation for ensuring that customers always get what they order. If you purchase via PayPal, they will protect you from unscrupulous merchants. Should you have a problem with an online purchase, contact Pay Pal and they will immediately contact the vendor and start the resolution process. If the vendor is unable to comply with what was originally agreed upon, Pay Pal will reimburse your purchase.
Be Carfeful With Phishing For Personal Information
Phishing is the term that is used to describe one of the most popular methods that identity thefts will use to steal your personal or credit card information. Scammers, usually overseas, send out fictitious emails posing as legitimate companies such as Bank of America, Chase, eBay, PayPal, asking you to provide some sort of personal information in order to update your account. They then give you a fake link for you to use to go fill out the information. Unsuspecting customers of those financial institutions who think they are giving their bank out updated information are actually giving away their identity to thieves who either use the information themselves or turn around and sell your information to other identity crooks. Other times you are asked for information such as your credit card to pay for a small fee that will unlock the new prize that you supposedly just won. These fraudsters are just after your personal information such as social security numbers, charge card account information, bank account numbers or just about anything that would asked on a credit application.
No comments:
Post a Comment