The most common is fraud with bank cards on the Internet, because it is with them that a large number of buyers in electronic stores pay today.
Often, a fraudster does not even need the card itself – enough information about it (card number, CVV2/CVC2 code, SMS password confirming the data and operation on the card).
To protect payment card details from fraudsters when paying for goods and services online, observe the following security measures.
- Pay for purchases only on the websites of well-known stores and companies.
- To pay for purchases over the Internet, use a separate bank card, and not the one on which the bulk of your funds are stored.
- Transfer as much money to the card for online payments as you plan to spend on purchases.
- Keep your anti-virus software up to date on devices you use to pay online.
Also check out our recommendations
“Card protection when using ATMs“.
Recommendations for the safe online use of the payment card
1) Check the security of online merchants
- Check the presence of 3D Secure symbols on the e-commerce platforms (Mastercard Secure Code, VERIFIED by VISA, American Express SafeKey). These symbols are usually displayed at the bottom of the web page of the merchant;
- Check if the website of the merchant is secured through the presence of the SSL logo (*) or if its address starts with “https://”, which indicates the encryption of the transmitted information;
- Never provide the PIN number when making online transactions because it is not necessary. No online merchant is entitled to ask you to introduce the PIN number in a box on the e-commerce platform;
- Avoid using the option “keep data” which offers the possibility to make future transactions without the need to enter the data of the payment card.
2) Use a safe environment for making payments
- Avoid using Wi-Fi public networks to perform online transactions, as they can be used to capture the transmitted data;
- Protect your computer by activating the security updates provided by software producers (usually for free) and install an antivirus or antimalware program (**), which will contribute to the detection of fraudulent programs, aimed to capture the personal data entered, of websites created by criminals in order to obtain confidential data, etc.;
- Avoid accessing suspect links from emails, social networks, instant message delivery programs, especially in cases where personal data or card information is required;
- In case of online transactions, we recommend you to use a virtual card (***), where you can transfer the sum necessary for the transaction;
- Keep all confirmation documents of the operations performed until the final settlement of sums from the account of the card.
3) Management of CVV2 / CVC2 / CID codes and one-time passwords
- Do not give to anyone your CVV2/CVC2/CID code or any other one-time password received from your bank to authorize a payment or to subscribe to internet-banking/mobile-banking systems.
(*) Security standard for the connection between the browser and the server.
(**) Protection program developed specifically to counteract software that is designed to infiltrate or damage the computer system without the consent of the owner.
(***) Card that allows only online transactions, which has a separate payment account. The lack of the magnetic strip and the chip do not allow the payments in a physical environment.
