Online purchases carry a risk factor and consumers must be cautious of personal data and financial scammers. We have a few suggestions for what you can do to protect your information:
- Check the seller’s licenses and authorisations
- Make sure the seller has a reliable payment system (e.g. SWIFT)
- Do not disclose your credit/debit card credentials to another individual, even if they ask. You must be able to complete the payment without human interference. (Use your credit card for extra precaution.)
- Be sure to save the receipt and order statement. These are official documents issued for your safety.
- Ask your bank to provide monthly electronic statements of your transactions’ history.
- For optimal security, save statements for a 12 month period.
Nowadays, malware is often used for phishing purposes or to spy on the user. In order to protect your data, we advise you to use the latest version of your antivirus and regularly clean your cookies.
What to do if scammers have gotten a hold of your card?
- Contact the customer service representatives of your card as soon as possible. Inform them of any transactions you did not make and ask to change your password. They will advise you more on the topic.
- Ask fast. The faster you inform the authorities and your bank, the higher the chances of getting your money back.
- Stay updated. Scammers develop new scenarios and methods at an alarmingly fast rate. The more appealing an offer is, the more the likelihood of it being a scam increases. As stated previously, do not disclose your personal information to anyone.
