The massive increase in the number of consumers using online shopping sites for goods and services has naturally led to a rise in chancers, hackers and scammers looking for ways in which to lure people onto fake sites, cheat them out of their money by diverting payments and stealing personal data.
But, when both the consumer and merchant take the right precautions (prevention is better than cure, after all) then these threats can be avoided, and the online shopping experience can be fun, productive, safe and secure.
1. You will be ‘phished’ when you shop online
You can avoid phishing scams by checking online sites for valid SSL certification. This means a website is prefixed with https and not just http. S is for Security. Also, check spellings, logos and fonts if the site is a known retailer, and that contact details are given. If in doubt, and there is contact information, call the helpline and ask for confirmation that the address you are using is the right one. Ensure that you use strong passwords and enable two factor authentication in your payments to help protect yourself.
2. Data breaches are inevitable
Most reputable sites have robust security measures in place such as encryption and secure payment gateways to avoid data hacks and breaches, ensuring that your information is safe. Use trusted sites.
3. All public Wi-Fi networks are unsafe
Although public networks are generally safe, using a virtual private network (VPN) and ensuring that the site you are accessing is secure itself, are additional protection measures that you can take against hackers accessing or intercepting your information when you transact using a public Wi-Fi. If possible, log on to secure networks when you go online.
4. Your credit card information is always at risk
It’s difficult for fraudulent websites to get accreditation from credit card companies, so if you’ve verified the authenticity of the site, next look at the payment options which they offer and make sure they are secure. Selecting the Scan to Pay option is the easiest and safest way to make a payment online.
Why Scan to Pay is so Secure?
1. Enhanced card enrolment security
During the card enrollment process, a hash check of your card number, cell phone number, and date of birth against the issuing bank’s records is performed. Hash checks ensure that the data provided by the user matches the bank's records. This confirms that the individual enrolling in the card is the legitimate cardholder.
2. Advanced Card Number Protection
To further safeguard your card details, Scan to Pay utilises scheme tokenisation for all transactions. This means that actual card numbers are never exposed during transactions, rather a unique token is generated, ensuring that card information remains confidential and secure.
3. Robust Transaction Authentication
All transactions made through Scan to Pay are authenticated and approved via Bank PIN or 3D Secure protocols. This multi-layered authentication process ensures that only the card holder can authorise payments, adding an extra layer of protection against unauthorised access.
4. Cutting-Edge Fraud Monitoring
Scan to Pay employs a leading AI fraud monitoring tool that continuously analyses and monitors transactions in real-time. This sophisticated system detects and blocks suspicious activities before they are even sent to the issuing banks, preventing potential fraud and safeguarding financial assets.
5. Our Service is PCI DSS Compliant
Scan to Pay transactions are protected by the latest payment security technology, ensuring that payment information is always safe, allowing consumers to make transactions with confidence and ease.
Financial literacy and digital maturity can help in ensuring that consumers stay safe when shopping online. These skills include users managing their own data responsibly, creating strong passwords, verifying networks and websites and then making the best choice when it comes to the payment method.
Scan to Pay plays its part in ensuring that all payments using the platform are encrypted, are safe and secure and that transactions are seamless and efficient. It’s no surprise that it’s the payment platform preferred by most South African consumers and vendors.
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