Since the internet has existed, those who are resistant to the gift shop in the street store can avoid this ordeal and quietly search for gift ideas online. There remains the last, most delicate step: online payment, which is generally done by credit card. How to avoid being fooled and not afraid of having your card number hacked?
1. Do not buy at any store
First important step: choosing the store. When you have the choice, prefer an online store that you already know by fame or because you have already used it. Make sure that the general information and the conditions of sale are accessible, the physical address of the company must be clearly indicated with a means of contact (telephone, email).
If you have no choice and you have doubts about the reliability of a seller, do not hesitate to contact them by phone or email under the pretext of checking the availability of a product. Search the internet for the name of the store or ask the community for advice in our pre-purchase advice forums to find an alternative or collect reviews.
2. Secure pages and VPN
A bank card number is intended to be entered on a special secure page which must be encrypted to prevent the number from being intercepted by a third party. These pages are easily recognizable thanks to the S of HTTPS which is displayed at the beginning of the address or the padlock present in the address bar. You can also activate your VPN if you have ever subscribed to a service of this type.
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On the other hand, bank card numbers should never pass through a simple contact form or through emails. Ideally, your real credit card number should almost never go online (see below).
In addition to this verification concerning the encryption of the page, do not forget to trigger your VPN to add an additional protection overlay, especially if you are making your purchase while connected to a Wifi network which is not yours.
3. Use an alternative payment method
Online sales sites sometimes offer alternative means of payment by credit card. Some, for example, offer payment via Paypal, which eliminates the need to systematically provide your card number. However, you must open a Paypal account by providing your card number or credit the account.
Bank transfers can also be an attractive alternative if you can make transfers online. The seller generally asks to note a reference to find the transaction. However, you should not be in a hurry, the validation of the order being longer than during payment by card.
4. Activate 3D Secure
Banking organizations have looked into these security problems and most banks or cards (Carte Bleu, Visa, Mastercard, etc.) offer security solutions such as 3-D Secure, a secure Internet payment protocol. Date of birth, code card, code by SMS ... not all banks offer the same type of security. Check with your advisor to find out what type of security your card offers and how to activate it before shopping online.
5. Use a prepaid card
If you do not have a card, bank account, or are particularly concerned that your numbers do not circulate on the internet, it is possible to acquire a prepaid credit card. These cards, which can also be used in street shops, are credited with a certain amount before use.
It is possible to buy them online or in cash at points of sale near you (local merchants). However, you have to pay fees: a fixed amount on management and/or certain amounts when recharging or for each transaction.
6. Use a virtual card or e-card
In the same spirit as the prepaid card, virtual cards or e-cards are offered by almost all French banking establishments. They allow you to create virtual card numbers for a certain amount or each payment. The service is generally chargeable, but the fees are lower than for prepaid cards. The procedure for creating virtual numbers can be done online via a special interface set up by the bank. Ask your bank advisor what solutions you have, you may already have them available without knowing it.
7. Monitor your accounts
The time for payment has passed and if you have decided to opt for payment with your real card number, it should be verified that the amount debited corresponds to the order you placed with the merchant, especially if you are used to shopping on the internet.
Check that each debit on your bank statements or on your online account corresponds to purchases actually made. If you see a debit that does not match any of your payments, please contact your bank for an explanation. The sooner the better if you want to cancel a payment or terminate a recurring payment.
8. Do not store
Finally, some sites sometimes offer you at the time of payment to "keep in memory" your payment information to make your task easier during your next purchases. Systematically uncheck this box to avoid leaving your card numbers lying around in merchant databases.
If for practical reasons you want to store this card, choose a strong password containing upper and lower case letters and mixed numbers and letters to avoid hacking your account. Of course, never use the same password for multiple websites.
9. Make no mistake!
It is not only the payment that must be secure, your purchase must be made so that the advantages of buying on the internet do not become a disadvantage. Before the payment phase, the price of the product, the choice of site, the deadlines, or other conditions of guarantees and after-sales service must be carefully examined so as not to be mistaken.
You are well equipped to buy on the internet, even with a credit card or bank card. It remains only to make your choice of gift in our Christmas selection or to be advised by members of the community in the forums' advice before purchase.
