Tampilkan postingan dengan label credit cards. Tampilkan semua postingan
Tampilkan postingan dengan label credit cards. Tampilkan semua postingan

Senin, 04 April 2011

Shopping Online – Protect Yourself

These days, there are great bargains to be found by shopping online. Many items that previously were only available in stores are now being bought and sold online every day. Books, cds, DVDs and electronics are all growing in popularity as online purchases. Then there are things like flights, hotel bookings, car rentals and the like that are which are well established in the online shopping world. More and more stores are putting up websites that allow you to make online orders and even supermarkets now let you do your grocery shopping online and they’ll deliver the goods to your door.

Added to this growth in stores and other big business websites, there are also millions of small traders offering you goods online too. Online auction sites such as ebay are experiencing phenomenal success. These types of purchases however carry the risk that you do not really know who you are dealing with but you have to give them sensitive financial information in order to pay for your purchases. You are forced to choose between buying from small sellers and then trust them with your card details, or forgo the opportunities they offer and deal only with large and trusted names.

Payment Sites

This problem has been recognised and that is why it is now possible to shop online from lots of small sellers while maintaining your privacy and keeping your financial information secure. There are payment sites with the most popular probably being paypal, that are set up specifically to deal with issues like these. Indeed, paypal is now owned by ebay, which shows the link in importance between the two services offered by these companies.

What websites like paypal allow you to do is pay open an online account for free. You can then transfer money into your account using a standard credit card payment procedure. The advantage of this is that while you are providing your card information to paypal, this is the only company who you are giving this information to and since they are large and therefore, hopefully, trustworthy, your privacy and security should be safe.

Then when you make all your various purchases with smaller, more anonymous traders, all you do is make the payment through paypal and this avoids all the dangers having to give all your sensitive data out again and again. It is another example of how using credit cards online are becoming safer and more convenient.

Jumat, 01 Oktober 2010

Fake Credit Card Numbers Mean Safer Online Shopping

Isn't That Illegal?

Yes, using credit cards fraudulently is illegal. This article is absolutely not suggesting that you make up and use a credit card number. You should also never use credit cards belonging to other people.

Below is a summary of new services the credit card companies have created to make online credit card use more secure.


How Does It Work?

It is more appropriate to use the terms "temporary credit card numbers" or "single-use credit card numbers" rather than "fake credit card numbers."

Some credit card issuers allow customers to generate and use a credit card number that is different from the number on their plastic credit card.


Current Online Security Measures

Security-conscious online buyers should only submit their credit card numbers to web sites that are secured by Secure Socket Layer (SSL) encryption. You can tell if a web page is secure by looking for the following signs:

1. The page address in the browser address bar begins with https. The extra "s" means secure. Normal web page addresses begin with http.

2. The browser will usually display a closed lock or a complete key symbol when you are at a secure page.

3. Clicking or double-clicking the closed lock symbol (or the security symbol your browser uses) will usually show the security information for that website.

4. Secure (https) web pages will encrypt (scramble) your credit card information before sending it across the public internet. Chances are that a human being will never even view the information.


That Sounds Secure Enough. Why Do We Need Single-Use Credit Card Numbers?

It is a bonus to the consumer any time a vendor can provide an extra layer of security. Online credit card consumers can generate a separate credit card number for each online purchase, if they wish.

This easy-to-use extra security measure makes consumers more confident about buying with credit cards over the internet. Anyone who did view your information in transit would see only your encrypted information. Encrypted information looks like gibberish to everyone except the credit card company's computer.

Additionally, it is no longer necessary to submit online the credit card number imprinted on your physical credit card.


Will They Run Out Of Credit Card Numbers?

No! Assume that Earth's population is about 6 billion people. Most credit card numbers have 16 digits in this familiar pattern: nnnn-nnnn-nnnn-nnnn. Assume that each digit in a credit card number can assume any value between 0 and 9.

That works out to be almost 1.7 million credit card numbers available to every man, woman, and child on Earth!

Even if the first 4 digits are reserved for some reason, there are still about 170 credit card numbers available for every person on the planet. In short, the credit card companies will not run out of single-use credit card numbers.


How Are They Different From My Real Credit Card Number?

They are as valid as your plastic credit card to online merchants. Each single-use credit card number is linked to your primary credit card account. Purchases made with single-use numbers appear on your monthly statement. Refunds made to single-use numbers will appear as credits on your monthly statement.


OK, What's The Bad News?

There are certain circumstances under which you should not use a single-use credit card number to make an online purchase. This author learned from experience not to use a single-use number at home to purchase movie tickets from a popular online ticket vendor.

The problem occurred because the machine at the movie theater that dispenses the online movie tickets requires the insertion of your real plastic credit card. If you did not use your real credit card number to buy the tickets, the machine will not release your tickets.

Any online purchase that requires you to present your physical credit card at the venue should only be made with the number on your physical credit card. Web sites that sell movie and other tickets will warn you of this.

Furthermore, your online ticket purchase will come with a confirmation number. Write or print that number and take it with you in case of problems.


Conclusion

Single-use credit card numbers are easy to generate, make online buying safer and more secure, and give consumers extra confidence when making online purchases. Call your credit card company or visit their website to learn if it offers this extra peace of mind on your credit card account.

Use the links following this article to learn more about cash rebate credit cards and gas credit cards.

Rabu, 05 Mei 2010

Benefits Of Online Credit Card Processors

We have all heard of PayPal. PayPal is an online credit card processor that allows online businesses to securely accept credit cards as a form of payment. In addition to PayPal, there are additional online credit card processors.

Online shopping has dramatically increased in popularity and each day more consumers think about purchasing online. Online shopping is popular because it is generally easy and convenient. Online credit card processors help to make online shopping hassle free. Online credit card processors are used by large or small businesses. In additional to nationally known companies, online credit card processors make it easy for work-at-home individuals to successfully make a profit selling homemade or wholesale merchandise.

For individuals interested in starting their own online business, finding the perfect online credit card processing company make take sometime. Credit card number are valuable information and unfortunately many account numbers are stolen each day. In addition to protecting the assets of your business, obtaining a secure online credit card processor will also protect your customers. Consumers do not want to be shopping or handing out valuable personal information to an unsecured website or credit card processing company. The best way to determine the success of online credit card processors is by searching for customer feedback on the internet. Many times clients will post feedback when they have had a positive or negative experience with a company.

In addition to personal and business security, fully researching the various different online credit card processors is a potential way to increase your profits. For allowing you to use their services, you are charged a fee. The fee and rates will depend on the online credit card processor in question. For this reason, it is important to shop around and find the best value for your money. Although cheaper rates are nice, it is not always better. Go with your gut instinct, if something seems too good to be true it may be. Research is an important tool in keeping your profits intact.

It is not uncommon to come across online credit card processors that offer certain guidelines or restrictions on their services. For example, there may be a select few of online credit card processors that limit the amount of sales it processes. This limit may be monthly, weekly, or even daily. If your business becomes a success, this restriction could only hurt it and could cause you to lose potential profits.

Another restriction may include the type of business that you are operating. Although each online credit card processor is different and they tend to operate under different standards, some online businesses may be a violation of their standards. A few examples of the businesses that online credit card processors may refuse to service are gambling sites, adult sties, or pharmacies. Before entering into a contract with an online credit card processing company, it is important to read through their contract rules and guidelines.

Credit cards are used by consumers because they are a convenient and easy way to participate in online shopping. If you are operating an online business, whether it be large or small, consider accepting online credit cards. There a wide number of online credit card processors available to serve your needs and help your businesses grow.