Credit card safety on the Web: how to judge whether a site is secure
You want to buy a one-of-a-kind item on a little-known company's website, and you wonder if it's safe to type in your credit card number.
Your hesitation might be warranted, especially when you're using your best credit cards. Although generally it's safe to trust major online retailers, it's a good idea to do some preliminary research on an online company with which you've never done business. How can you tell if the website is safe for your credit cards?
Avoiding Credit Card Fraud Online
• Look for clues on your computer screen
After you move to the order page where you type in your credit card number, there should be an "s" after "http" in the URL. That indicates that the site uses encryption technology, which scrambles information, such as your credit card number, to protect it from hackers as it's transferred from your computer to the online retailer's computer system. Other clues, says the Privacy Rights Clearinghouse, include a closed padlock or an unbroken key on your screen.
• Is the business real?
Anybody can create a website, so make sure the business is legitimate. Find the company's address and phone number, and call the merchant. A site that provides no physical address or phone number should raise a red flag. Do a search on the Internet about the business and see what turns up.
Get Security Details for Online Credit Card Use
• Look for seals of approval
Check to see if the business is a member of organizations that set guidelines and provide seals of approval for Internet safety, such as the Better Business Bureau's BBBOnline, VeriSign, or TRUSTe.
• Read the privacy and security policy
Every reputable online business provides information about how it processes orders, says the Privacy Rights Clearinghouse. Those details are in a privacy or security policy. Make sure the business displays one or both of those documents, and check to see what they say.
After you feel like you can trust the company, start with a small purchase first, and check your credit card statement frequently to spot any unauthorized charges. Of course, anytime you spot charges you didn't make on credit card statements, call your credit card companies immediately to report them.
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Published 06/13/11 (Modified 01/25/13)
Was going to buy some items from a website which i have to say were very very cheap but when i went to the payments page the currency changed from UK pounds to US dollars and then to chinese yen so i did not proceed with the order. Would still like the items but not sure if safe??
Reply»As long as you see https in the address bar the transaction "should" be safe but check the site's privacy policy and do a Google search to check for negative reviews. As far as the currency, you can certainly make purchases online in Chinese yuan or Japanese yen, but you may be charged currency conversion fees. And finally, if a deal seems too good to be true, it probably is. I'd advise caution.
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